Reclassification of English Learners

Assembly Bill (AB) 2555 is a new California law that changes how English Learner (EL) students are reclassified as English proficient. 

AB 2555 was signed into law on September 27, 2026. SFUSD follows the reclassification guidelines established by the California Department of Education (CDE). 

AB 2555 makes a student’s score on the Summative English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) or the Summative Alternate ELPAC the sole basis for reclassification. 

Under the new statewide criteria, an EL student qualifies for reclassification when they receive:

• Overall Performance Level 4 on the Summative ELPAC, or 
• Overall Performance Level 3 on the Summative Alternate ELPAC.

AB 2555 also establishes additional requirements related to progress monitoring, family engagement, reclassification data reporting, and an alternate reclassification pathway for eligible EL students with IEPs.

The changes happen in stages. Some provisions take effect immediately because of the law’s urgency clause, while others take effect on specific dates established in the law.

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is California's state-mandated assessment used to measure the English language proficiency of K–12 students whose primary language is not English. 

The ELPAC measures a student's ability to understand and use English in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

There is an alternate assessment called the Summative Alternate ELPAC, which is designed for English Learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities, as determined through the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 

Learn more: 

• 5 things you should know about the ELPAC
• ELPAC Practice Tests

AB 2555 included an urgency clause and became effective immediately upon being signed by the Governor. SFUSD must start immediately reclassifying students using only Criterion 1 (a score of 4 on the Summative ELPAC or a score of 3 on the Summative Alternate ELPAC)

Under AB 2555, the California Department of Education (CDE) will begin an automated reclassification with Spring 2028 ELPAC results. 

Until then, SFUSD will process reclassification using Criterion 1 (a score of 4 on the Summative ELPAC or a score of 3 on the Summative Alternate ELPAC) for Spring 2026 and Spring 2027 ELPAC results. 

For students who received a qualifying score on the Spring 2026 ELPAC or Summative Alternate ELPAC, the statewide deadline for reclassification is January 31, 2027.

SFUSD’s planned reclassification timeline for SY 2026 - 2027:

• October 15, 2026: process eligible students using Spring 2026 ELPAC results 
• To be confirmed, 2027: process eligible students using Spring 2027 ELPAC results 

For Spring 2027 scheduling, school sites are encouraged to use the time available through the start of the Spring semester (January 4, 2027) to program reclassified students out of Designated ELD. Please contact your counseling team for additional support with Spring 2027 scheduling and course placement. 

No. A qualifying score from two years ago cannot be used for the current reclassification process. Only the prior school year’s ELPAC results can be used for reclassification. The student would need to receive a qualifying score on a future Summative ELPAC assessment.

No. School sites and parents/caregivers do not need to submit a reclassification form. The previous criteria 2-4 (basic English skills relative to English Proficient Students, teacher evaluation, and parent consultation) are no longer required for reclassification under AB 2555. 

School Sites:
The Reclassification Tracker in Illuminate has been updated to include students who received a qualifying score on the ELPAC. 
And refer to the Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) Roster to see the reclassified students at your site.

Parents/Caregivers:
Spring 2026 ELPAC results are available in ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers can log in to ParentVUE, go to their student’s “State Tests” tab in the menu, and look for and select “ESA” to view their student’s ELPAC results. 

ELPAC Student Score Reports are available in English with additional primary language translations in Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Filipino, Korean, and Arabic. See a sample ELPAC Score Report here. 

Additionally, SFUSD posts translated Notice of Reclassification on ParentVue and mails physical letters to families without an activated ParentVue account. 

AB 2555 reinforces the important role of families in supporting their child’s progress toward English language proficiency. Beginning January 1, 2027, parents/caregivers have an explicit right to meet with their child’s teacher(s) to discuss their child’s progress toward English proficiency.

School sites should use Parent-Teacher Conferences, ELAC meetings, and IEP meetings as opportunities to partner with families around English learner progress and supports. 

Schools should help families: 

• Understand their child’s ELPAC results and what they mean for their child’s English language development. 
• Understand the reclassification process and criteria.
• Learn about their child’s English Language Development (ELD) services and supports.
• Review their child’s progress toward English proficiency and reclassification.
• Review the ML Progress Monitoring Report and identify areas of progress and areas where additional support may be needed.
• Establish clear student, school, and family partnership goals to support continued progress. 

In accordance with state and federal requirements, SFUSD must monitor the academic progress of students who have been reclassified as Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) for at least four years after reclassification to ensure correct classification, placement, and additional academic support, as needed (20 U.S.C. § 6841[a][4][5]; 5 CCR § 11304). 

AB 2555 also adds new state-level requirements related to RFEP monitoring:

• Beginning July 1, 2027: The California Department of Education (CDE) will annually publish statewide, county, district, and school-level RFEP rate data. The 2025–26 RFEP rates are scheduled to be released in Fall 2026, with annual releases continuing in the fall thereafter.
• By January 1, 2028: The State Board of Education (SBE) must identify a method and appropriate instrument for monitoring RFEP students to identify students who are not meeting academic standards after reclassification.
• By January 1, 2028: The CDE must identify appropriate interventions for RFEP students who need additional academic support.

Beginning July 1, 2028, AB 2555 establishes an alternate pathway for eligible EL students with IEPs. 

EL students with an IEP who score an overall 3 on the Summative ELPAC or any score on the Summative Alternate ELPAC, may be eligible for reclassification through alternate coursework and performance tasks. The CDE would develop the rubrics and sample performance tasks needed to support this process.​

To be eligible for this pathway, the student must have received English Language Development (ELD) instruction and must also have used all designated supports and accommodations and any domain exemptions required by the student’s IEP.

Before July 1, 2028, EL students with an IEP must meet the standard statewide reclassification threshold: score 4 on the Summative ELPAC or 3 on the Summative Alternate ELPAC. 

School sites should: 

• Check the Reclassification Tracker in Illuminate to identify students who received a qualifying ELPAC score. These students will be automatically reclassified on October 15, 2026.
• October 19, 2026, check the Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) Roster to see the reclassified students at your site and make sure they are not enrolled in Designated ELD in Spring 2027.
• Continue to use ML Progress Monitoring Report to progress monitor English Learner students and support their progress toward English language proficiency.
• Communicate clearly with families about changes to the reclassification process and provide opportunities to discuss their student’s progress and next steps. (Family-facing ELAC Workshop: Understand the reclassification process and ELPAC Resources) 
• Ensure annual Summative ELPAC administration and that all English Learner students take the Summative ELPAC each spring.
• Follow CDE and SFUSD guidance as district systems, timelines, and procedures are updated.

SFUSD will offer several opportunities for school staff, families, and community partners to learn more about AB 2555 and ask questions.

School and District Staff: 
Secondary ML Coordinators Meeting: October 20, 2026 | 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. 

Parents/Caregivers: 
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) 

• DELAC Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.  
  In-person: Auditorium, Civic Center Secondary School, 
  727 Golden Gate Ave (enter through McAllister Street parking lot)
  Virtual link: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/86081196946

• DELAC General Meeting: Wednesday, November 18|2026 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 
  Virtual link: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/82888090614

Community partners/CBOs:
AB 2555 Reclassification Information Session
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 |11:30 - 12:30 p.m. 
Virtual link: meet.google.com/hji-cgnx-zbu 

Have questions about AB 2555 or the updated EL reclassification process? 
Schedule a drop-in support to ask questions, get clarification, and receive support navigating the new requirements and timelines.

Additional Resources

• FAQ: AB 2555 English Learner Reclassification 
• SFUSD EL Reclassification Website
• California Department of Education: AB 2555 FAQ
• Refer to CALPADS Flash #333 for guidance regarding on submitting English Language Acquisition Status (ELAS) records
• Presentation slides: understanding reclassification & ELPAC  (School Staff) 
• Presentation slides: understanding reclassification & ELPAC (ELAC/Family-facing) 

Your site’s ML Coordinator can help answer questions about the reclassification process and provide support. 

If your site does not have an ML Coordinator, or if you would like to connect with the district office, please contact Jantsan Damdinsuren at damdinsuren@sfusd.edu.