Skip to main content

Membership is free!

Glossary of Terms for English learner (EL) Reports

English Learner (EL): A student in kindergarten through grade 12 for whom there is a report of a language other than English on the Home Language Survey and who, upon initial assessment in California using an appropriate state assessment (currently the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) and from additional information when appropriate, is determined to lack the clearly defined English language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and/or writing necessary to succeed in the school's regular instructional programs.

English Learner "At-Risk" of Becoming a Long-Term English Learner ("At.Risk"): An English learner (EL) student to which all of the following apply: (1) is enrolled on Census Day (the first Wednesday in October) in grades 3 to 12, inclusive; and (2) has been enrolled in a U.S. school for four or five years; and (3) has scored at the intermediate level or below on the prior year administration of the CELDT; and (4) for students in grades 4 to 9, inclusive, has scored in the fourth or fifth year at the "Standard Not Met" level on the prior year administration of the CAASPP-ELA, In addition, please note the following: (1) students for whom one or more of the required testing criteria are not available are categorically determined to be "At-Risk"; and (2) the assessment component of"At-Risk" determination for students in grades 10 - 12, inclusive, is based solely on the CELDT criteria outlined above; and (3) the CAASPP-ELA component of "At-Risk" determination is not applied to students in grade 3, as outlined in Education Code Section 313.1(b)(1)(D), because the CAASPP-ELA is administered in grades 3 to 8, inclusive, and 11, so students enrolled in grade 3 on Census Day will not have prior year CAASPP-ELA test scores available. For more information see Education Code 313.1

English Only (EO): A student in kindergarten through grade 12 for whom the only language reported on the Home Language Survey (HLS) is English or American Sign Language. 

Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP): A student in kindergarten through grade 12 for whom a language other than English is reported on the Home Language Survey and who, upon initial assessment in California using an appropriate stats assessment (currently the California English Language Development Test (CELDT)) and from additional information when appropriate, is determined to be proficient in English.

Long-Term English Learner (LTEL): An English learner (EL) student to which all of the following apply: (1) is enrolled on Census Day (the first Wednesday in October) in grades fi to 12, inclusive; and (2) has been enrolled in a U.S. school for six or more years; and (3) has remained at the same English language proficiency level for two or more consecutive prior years, or has regressed to a lower English language proficiency level, as determined by the CELDT; and (4) for students in grades 6 to 9, inclusive, has scored at the =Standard Not Met" level on the prior year administration of the CAASPP-ELA. In addition, please note the following: (1) students for whom one or more of the required testing criteria are not available are categorically determined to be an LTEL; and (2) the assessment component of LTEL determination for students in grades 10 - 12, inclusive, is based solely on the CELDT criteria outlined above. For more information see Education Code 313.1

Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP): A student in kindergarten through grade 12 who, upon entering public school in California, is identified as an English learner (EL) and subsequently reclassified/redesignated in California, per Education Code 313, as proficient in English. Education Code 313 criteria include, but are not limited to, an assessment of English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing as currently measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT), teacher evaluation of curriculum mastery, parental opinion/consultation, and student's performance of basic skills, as measured by the California Standards Test English Language Arts, that demonstrates sufficient proficiency in English to participate effectively in a curriculum designed for students of the same age whose native language is English.

Ungraded Elementary (UE): A grade level for students enrolled in elementary classes (kindergarten through eighth grades) that are not assigned to a specific grade level. This grade level is specifically for students in a special education program.

Ungraded Secondary (US): A grade level for students enrolled in secondary classes (ninth through twelfth grades) that are not assigned to a specific grade level, This grade level is specifically for students in a special education program.