The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) fulfills federal requirements for assessing the English language proficiency of English learners (ELs) in kindergarten through grade 12 in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. TELPAS reports student performance in terms of four English language proficiency levels: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. TELPAS results are used in accountability and performance-based monitoring indicators. The assessment components for grades K–1 and 2–12 include the following:
- Grades K–1
- holistically rated observational assessments of listening, speaking, reading, and writing
- Grades 2–12
- multiple-choice online reading tests in six grade clusters: 2, 3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–12
- online listening and speaking tests in four grade clusters: 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12
- holistically rated student writing collections
Students’ answers to online tests are submitted through the Student Interface of the Test Delivery System (TDS). Students' ratings from holistically rated assessments are submitted through the Data Entry Interface (DEI).
For holistically rated assessments, teachers are trained to use rating rubrics (proficiency level descriptors, PLDs) to determine the English language proficiency levels of students based on ongoing classroom observations and written student work.
Participation Requirements
All ELs in grades K–12 are required to participate in TELPAS, including students classified as limited English proficient (LEP) in the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) whose parents have declined bilingual or English as a second language (ESL) program services (PEIMS code C). ELs are required to be assessed annually until they meet bilingual or ESL program reclassification criteria.
There are rare circumstances in which a student may not be required to participate in one or more TELPAS language domains.
- Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Decisions. In rare cases, an EL may be eligible to participate in the TELPAS Alternate assessment. Please refer to the TELPAS Alternate Program Highlights to review the eligibility requirements for TELPAS Alternate. If an EL does not meet the TELPAS Alternate eligibility requirements, it may be necessary for the ARD committee, in conjunction with the language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC), to determine that an EL receiving special education services should not be assessed in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for reasons associated with the student's particular disability. The reason for not assessing the student must be well supported and documented in the student’s individualized education program (IEP) by the ARD committee and in the student’s permanent record file by the LPAC.
- Newly Enrolled EL—Holistically Rated Domains. An EL from another school district, state, or country who enrolls on or after the first day of the TELPAS testing window will not be assessed by the receiving district in the holistically rated domains. However, a newly enrolled EL in grades 2–12 is required to take the TELPAS online tests.
Scheduling
For the 2021–2022 school year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will offer a six-week test administration window for TELPAS. Each district establishes a local schedule to administer the online tests and complete the holistic ratings during the assessment window indicated on the Student Assessment Testing Calendar. Each online test should be completed in one day unless the student has been approved for an extra day or becomes sick during testing.
Starting this school year, student registration counts for TELPAS will determine the number of TELPAS Test Administrator Manuals that districts will receive in January. Districts must complete TELPAS student registrations by November 19, 2021, as noted below. The TELPAS Test Administrator Manual will also be available online.
Key TELPAS Dates:
TELPAS PRACTICE/REVIEW DATES & ONLINE TELPAS TESTING DATES FOR
KERR ELEMENTARY EB KIDDOS
|
Activity
|
Date 2021-2022
|
|---|---|
| Districts receive test administrator manuals | January 10–January 14 |
| Districts submit student registrations, grades K–12 listening, speaking, reading, and writing | November 5–November 19 |
| Test session setup begins | January 10 |
| TELPAS assessment window, grades K–12 listening, speaking, reading, and writing | February 21–April 1 |
| Districts ship all nonscoreable materials | April 8 |
| Reports posted to Centralized Reporting System (CRS) | May 27 |
| Student results available in family and analytic portals | June 2 |
| Districts receive printed reports | May 31–June 3 |
| Districts submit score code and language changes | May 27–June 3 |
| Updated report cards and data files posted | June 21 |
Key Holistic Rating Training Dates
|
Activity |
Date 2021-2022
|
|---|---|
|
TELPAS Online Training Center opens; Assembling and Verifying Grades 2–12 Writing Collections course available |
January 10 |
| End date for district coordinator training—all TELPAS components | January 21 |
|
Online basic training courses for new grades K–1 and 2–12 raters available |
January 24 |
|
End date for campus coordinator training—all TELPAS components |
February 4 |
|
The calibration window opens for new and returning raters |
February 7 |
|
Earliest eligibility date for TELPAS writing samples |
February 7 |
| End date for training raters and verifiers on administration procedures | February 18 |
|
TELPAS Grades K–12 listening, speaking, reading, and writing |
February 21–April 1 |
Make-up Testing
Districts should offer make-up opportunities for TELPAS online tests to students who are absent on the campus-scheduled assessment day since there is a six-week test administration window. Districts that offer make-up testing must maintain the security of the assessments. This includes ensuring that the test content remains secure so the assessments administered to students later within the assessment window are still valid.
Students Who Become Sick During a Test
Make-up testing may also be used for a student who becomes sick and leaves campus during the test. If the student has not completed the assessment, the student may complete the test upon returning to school within the scheduled administration dates. For online administration, TDS will lock student responses eight hours after pausing a test. Students who continue testing on another day will be able to view all questions but will not be able to edit responses completed on a previous day.
More information about TELPAS can be accessed on the TELPAS Resources- TRAINING PowerPoints webpage.
