Reclassification

Reclassification is the process of moving a student from English learner (EL) status to reclassified fluent English proficient (RFEP) status. It can happen at any point in the school year, as soon as a student meets the criterion.

THE CRITERIA CHANGED

As of September 27, 2026, ELPAC score is the only criterion

Assembly Bill 2555 amended California Education Code and took effect immediately on September 27, 2026. A student's score on the Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC is now the sole criterion for reclassification. The four criteria used before that date, which included teacher evaluation, parent consultation, and basic skills comparison, are no longer used.

Districts should consult legal counsel about current requirements, and watch for further CDE guidance, as not every part of the bill is implemented yet.

The criterion

English language proficiency, demonstrated through the student's ELPAC or Alternate ELPAC score, is the only measure used. A student without a Summative ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC score is not eligible to be reclassified.

Summative ELPAC

A student who scores at Overall Performance Level 4 must be reclassified. A student at Overall Performance Level 3 or lower cannot be considered for reclassification.

Overall PL 4

Summative Alternate ELPAC

For students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who take the Alternate ELPAC, the criterion is Overall Performance Level 3.

Overall PL 3

This applies to every EL student, including dually identified students, meaning English learners with disabilities.
Rare exception for students with disabilities. Where a student's disability prevents assessment in one or more domains of the Summative ELPAC, the student may be reclassified with an Overall PL 4 on the remaining domains in which they can appropriately be assessed.
Students who do not meet the criterion. The CDE encourages districts to bring people together, including parents wherever possible, to discuss planning, placement, and goals, focusing on the student's strengths, growth areas, and opportunities.

What this means right now

The change is retroactive in effect: districts must use scores already in hand from the 2025–26 administration.

Use the 2025–26 scores. Districts are to begin immediately using Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC results from the 2025–26 administration to determine who is now eligible.
Reclassify as soon as possible. Every student who scored Overall PL 4 on the Summative ELPAC, or Overall PL 3 on the Summative Alternate ELPAC, must be reclassified no later than January 31, 2027.
Reclassification dates must fall between September 27, 2026 and January 31, 2027.

Criteria no longer in use

These were required before September 27, 2026. They are listed here so staff who worked under the old process know what has been retired. They are not part of the current determination.

Retired as of September 27, 2026

Criterion 2 — Teacher evaluation, including review of the student's curriculum mastery
Criterion 3 — Parental opinion and consultation
Criterion 4 — Comparison of the student's basic skills against an empirically established range of performance for English proficient students of the same age