Family Resources

Welcome Families!

The ELLMA team is here to support you in ensuring your language learner gets the best education possible in OUSD schools, whether they are learning English or another second language. Parent engagement is critical for the success of ELL students, and we encourage you to learn as much as possible about how to support your child at home and by working with their school.Here are the answers to frequently asked questions from families of ELL students. If you do not find the information you need on this page, please write to us and we will do our best to assist.

How was my child classified as an ELL?

1. Welcome Center & Home Language Survey:

When you went to the Student Welcome Center with your child to enroll them into a school, you filled out the Registration Form. During that time, you also filled out a Home Language Survey. The Home Language Survey indicated to us that your student speaks another language at home.

2. Language Assessment of your child (ELPAC):

Before their first day of school or within 30 days for your school's start date, your child was given the initial English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) to determine their English fluency.

3. ELL Classification:

Within 20 days of administering the language assessment tests, we will classify your student and notify you of the results in the Parent Notification Letter. Your child may be identified as an English Language Learner at this time, or may be identified as Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP).

If these did not apply, then your student was classified as an Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEP) student.

What happens now that my child has been classified as an ELL?

1. Language Program Placement:

Your child will be placed in our English Language Acceleration Program (ELAP) offered at all OUSD Schools and any additional language programs that apply. You can read more about our Language Programs here to choose one that meets your child's needs. If your current school does not offer the language supports or programs you want for your child, you may choose to enroll them in another school for the following year. Read more about enrollment.

2. Ongoing Assessment throughout the year:

In the spring, parents will receive an Annual Parent Notification Letter which is an updated version of the Initial Parent Notification Letter listed above. The purpose of the Annual Parent Notification Letter is to:

Alert you of your child’s instructional program placement for the coming year
Give you an opportunity to request an alternate instructional program, including a Dual Language instructional program

3. Learn about the process of Reclassification and support your child in being reclassified.

Learn more about reclassification and understand what you can do as a parent to help your child reclassify.

How do I choose the right ELL program?

What should I know about reclassification and my child's rights to language development?

How can I monitor my student's progress towards English proficiency?

What opportunities does the District offer for parents to get involved?

Orientation Video

If you are new to OUSD, our Orientation Video will help you to understand the enrollment process and how to ensure your student is in the right classes for them. The video below is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Mam, Vietnamese, Dari and Tigrinya.

ELPAC: English Language Proficiency Assessment for California

As of February, 2018, the ELPAC is the State of California's official assessment test to measure student proficiency in English. Previously, the CELDT test was used. As with the CELDT, the scores of the ELPAC will be one of the factors considered in measuring a student's progress towards reclassification as fluent in English.

This video provides an overview of the elements of the ELPAC test and is also available in Spanish. A Parent Guide to Understanding ELPAC is available in multiple languages (please scroll down to the ELPAC section).

Report Card Translations

Download a Kindergarten - 5th grade report card translation in the following languages:

For middle and high school, families should ask front office staff to change their Correspondence Language in order to receive a translated report card.

2018-2021 Roadmap: Executive Summary

Click above for Spanish or here for English.

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