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District adopts ELPAC overall‑level 4 as reclassification threshold; preliminary reclassification rate about 8%
Summary
SFUSD told the board it will set the ELPAC overall score of 4 as the primary cut score for English‑learner reclassification per state guidance; staff presented analysis showing an initial reclassification rate of about 8 percent and outlined supports for language pathways.
District staff presented changes to the English‑learner reclassification criteria driven by state ELPAC cut scores and obtained board approval of the recommended revisions.
Catalina Rico, director of Curriculum and Instruction, and the district’s ELD policy staff explained that the state has set the overall ELPAC score of 4 as the standard for criterion 1 and that SFUSD will adopt that for 2019–20. Staff said local measures for criteria 2 (basic skills in English), 3 (teacher evaluation), and 4 (parent consultation) would remain intact, and recommended no additional revisions to those buckets.
The district presented analyses comparing ELPAC results to previous tests and to Smarter Balanced ELA performance; staff said students with an ELPAC overall level 4 perform comparably to English‑proficient peers on state assessments. District staff reported they had preliminarily reclassified about 31,300 English learners for the year and estimated a preliminary reclassification rate of roughly 8 percent (forms still being processed). The staff also noted disparities in reclassification rates across language pathways (notably between Chinese and Spanish language programs) and described a partnership with Stanford to investigate instructional and mindset factors.
Board members asked for follow up data, comparisons with other districts, and details about supports for Spanish‑language pathways; the district agreed to provide further analysis and to return with next steps.
The board approved the resolution to adopt the recommended reclassification criteria by roll call.
