December 14, 2023

Region 4

Multilingual Learner Leadership Network (MLLN) Newsletter

The MLLN newsletter will take a short break and return in the new year. Our next issue will be released on January 11, 2024. We thank you for being a part of our MLLN and wish you a warm and joyful holiday season surrounded by good food and good company!

Important Updates

ELPAC Updates

ELPAC Interim Assessment Video Series

The ELPAC Interim Assessment Video Series consists of six modules covering the content and purpose of the interim assessments as well as how to use related systems and resources. These videos complement the Interim Assessment User Guide, which contains more details for educators using the ELPAC Interim Assessments. This series includes an overview video with information on how to use the Test Administrator Interface to initiate a test session, check student accessibility resources, and approve students for testing and other videos that cover specific domains and grade spans: Speaking, K-2 Listening, Reading, and Writing Domains, and 3rd-12th Listening, Reading, and Writing Domains.

2023 Interim and Formative Assessment Training Series

The recordings and materials of the following modules are now available on the Asynchronous Training Opportunities web page.

- Module 2: Gauging Student Progress with the ELPAC Interim Assessments

- Module 3: Interim Assessment Hand Scoring

Module 3D: ELPAC--This training references and displays secure materials, so links to the recording and materials are located on the Moodle Training Site. To access the appropriate Moodle course, log in or create an account for Moodle and select the ELPAC Interim Assessments (IA) Training Resources link. When prompted, enter the following enrollment key: ZbkTnEneC2

Summative ELPAC Reminders

- Summative ELPAC primary materials ordering window is open in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) through December 18, 2023.

- Ensure that Moodle trainings are complete for LEA and Test Examiners. Annual certification is required for all LEA and test examiners for Summative assessments.The Summative ELPAC LEA certification should have been completed by December 8, 2023 while the Summative Alternate ELPAC LEA certification should be completed by December 15, 2023.

- This is a great time to check that IEPs are completed with the team having made decisions about any Alternate assessment assignments and/or accommodations needed and provide sufficient time for those to be loaded into TOMS.

Alternate ELPAC "Results Are In, Now What" Modules

New modules have been added and will continue to be added throughout this year to the Alternate ELPAC "Results Are In, Now What" training found on the Moodle Training Site.

California Spanish Assessment

Applications are still open to participate in the continued development of the California Spanish Assessment (CSA). If you are bilingual and biliterate in Spanish and English and have at least two years’ experience teaching Spanish, consider joining one of on the Opportunities to Get Involved webpage to have powerful input on the development and administration of the CSA. Substitute teacher expenses will be reimbursed, and stipends may be available. To apply, complete the Educator Opportunities Portal Account Creation Form.

CALPADS Updates

Initial Fall 1 Certification Deadline is Friday, December 15, 2023. LEAs must approve their Fall 1 submission by this date in order for their 2023-24 enrollment and Unduplicated Pupil Count (UPC) data to be used to calculate their funding for the First Principal Apportionment. The Fall 2 submission window will open on December 18, 2023, which is a few weeks earlier than past years. When the window opens, LEAs submit and certify as of Census Day (the first Wednesday in October), including:

- Courses LEAs offered

- Attributes of the courses offered, such as the English Learner services provided

- Certificated staff assigned to the courses

- Students enrolled in the courses

- Certificated staff assignments in non-classroom based assignments

- Demographic data on all submitted certificated staff

When the Fall 2 submission window opens on December 18, 2023, the LEAs that have uploaded all of their Fall 2 data will be able to see all the errors they must resolve in order to certify their Fall 2 submission by the March 1 certification deadline. In order to certify by the deadline, LEAs should strive to resolve all fatal errors by February 16, 2024. This will provide LEAs time to review certification reports for accuracy. Note: There is no Amendment Window for Fall 2.

Fall 2 training is now available. Live training sessions are available to CALPADS Administrators/Data Coordinators with Bridge accounts. For those who do not have a Bridge account, the courses will be recorded and published on the California School Information Services (CSIS) CALPADS Training Channel on YouTube.

Title III, ConApp, and CARS

The 2023–24 Title III funding application is closed but the program office will consider late applicants through March 31, 2024. Title III eligibility determinations are calculated using the most current data collected and certified on the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). For the 2023–24 subgrant year, the CDE used the 2022–23 CALPADS data collected on the first Wednesday (Census Day) of October 2022. Eligibility criteria for Title III EL and Immigrant Student Program participation remain the same as in previous years. Preliminary allocations have been established, and LEAs are currently funded at the following per-pupil rates: EL Program: $123.85, Immigrant Program: $120.05. Preliminary eligibility lists (also referred to as preliminary allocations) and the 2023–24 preliminary allocations schedule are posted on the CDE Title III EL and Immigrant Programs web page.

The data collection forms of the 2023–24 Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) Winter Release was on Friday, 12/1/23. While the deadline is on 1/15/24, the forms remain open for editing until they close at 11:59 pm on Thursday, 2/15/24 and forms will not be reopened after their close date. Refer to the CARS Newsflash #78 and 2023–24 ConApp Program Guidance webpage for more information.

Legislative Updates

The following bills have been signed by the governor and will take effect on January 1, 2024:

- AB 278: This bill establishes the Dream Resource Center Grant Program to create new and supplement existing Dream Resource Centers to provide pupils in grades 9-12 with specified resources.

- AB 370: This bill updates the criteria needed to be awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB). Read more in the SSB section below.

- AB 393: This bill requires the development of procedures for dual language learner data collection and reporting in general or migrant childcare and development programs.

- AB 714: This bill requires the CDE to curate resources to support newcomer pupils and to annually report the enrollment of newcomer pupils.

State Seal of Biliteracy

Governor Newsom signed AB 370 on 10/7/23. This bill amends California Education Code Section 51461, changing the requirements to earn the California State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB). The new requirements will go into effect on January 1, 2024, and will apply to 2024 graduates. The CDE State Seal of Biliteracy webpage has been updated to reflect the new requirements. Among other resources, under the different tabs on this webpage, you will find a flyer and poster that outline the new requirements in detail, an updated implementation guide, and a recorded webinar for SSB coordinators and educators that explains the new requirements in detail and provides information and resources to start a SSB program or strengthen an existing program. If you have questions about the State Seal of Biliteracy, please contact Gina Garcia-Smith, CDE Education Programs Consultant by email at SEAL@cde.ca.gov.

OPTEL

On 11/8/23, the SBE unanimously approved the Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners (OPTEL ) and a recommended threshold level of three or above to use for reclassification Criteria 2 and 3. The goal is to move California closer to the statewide standardization of the reclassification criteria required in Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The OPTEL user guide and additional implementation tools and resources are anticipated to be completed and released in January 2024.

EPiCC

Region 4 MLLN is excited to be part of the upcoming English Learner Roadmap Power in Collaboration across California (EPiCC) grant work in Zone A. Funded through the Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG): English Language Acquisition Program (ELAP), the EPiCC will be providing statewide professional learning opportunities with these three goals:

1. Integrated language development within and across content areas, i.e., integrated ELD, designated ELD, or language development in a language in addition to English to benefit EL students.

2. Development of bilingual and biliterate proficiency.

3. Building and strengthening capacity to implement EL Roadmap policy.

Any district staff, site administrators, teachers, counselors, paraeducators that are interested can sign up for the EPiCC listserv to receive information on these professional learning opportunities or visit the EPiCC website and sign up directly for sessions across all Zones that are open statewide.