Language Assessments and Language Program Eligibility

Dual Language Immersion programs serve a blend of English Learner students, bilingual students, and monolingual English speaking students. The goal of the Dual Immersion program is to develop proficiency in the program language and in English simultaneously.

Biliteracy Programs serve only potential English Learners and bilingual students who are proficient in their primary language. The goals of the Biliteracy program are to develop English language skills, and to preserve language skills in the program language.

For English Learners with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) who require English language acquisition services to obtain a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), their IEPs should include goals that address English Language Development and linguistic scaffolds to access core curriculum instruction. In addition, their IEP goals should outline ELPAC accommodations and designated supports for each domain as needed and/or consideration of an alternate assessment to the ELPAC and with access to core curriculum instruction. For more information ask your child's teacher, principal or visit the Special Education Department.

• Language Programs - see what programs we offer by language
• Multilingual Learner Programs - resources for multilingual learners
• How to Enroll an English Learner student - information about how to enroll, if your student is learning English
• English Learner Guide - key information for English Learners regarding programs, eligibility and testing
• SFUSD's School Finder - see which schools have language programs 

Any student who is applying for a language program in elementary school (TK-5th) or middle school (6th-8th) may need to complete a language assessment as part of the application process. View the detailed answer by language program type:

For Dual Language Immersion (Spanish Immersion, Cantonese Immersion, Korean Immersion, or Mandarin Immersion): 

• TK-1st grade: applicants do not need to speak the program language in order to apply, and they do not have to pass the language assessment. Without the assessment, all applicants are automatically eligible for the "non-native speaker" seats within the program. However, some seats in TK-1st grade are reserved for students who already speak the program language — in order to be eligible for these seats, applicants (regardless of home language) must either pass a language assessment OR already be enrolled in a matching program in SFUSD. So — if your student is proficient in the language, taking and passing the language assessment will benefit them.
• 2nd-5th grade: all applicants are required to be proficient in the program language. If your student is not already enrolled in a matching language program in SFUSD, they need to pass the language assessment in order to be eligible to enter an immersion program in 2nd-5th grade.

For Japanese Bilingual Bicultural: For Kindergarten, the Japanese program uses the same eligibility rules described above. For 1st grade through 5th grade, all students are eligible to apply, and there is no language testing needed.

For Biliteracy (Spanish Biliteracy or Cantonese Biliteracy): All seats in Kindergarten-5th grade are reserved for students who already speak the program language, and have at least one home language survey response that matches the program language. If your student's first three home language survey responses all match the program language, they are automatically eligible for the Biliteracy program and do not need to complete a language assessment. If only some of their home language survey responses match the program language, they must pass a language assessment in order to be eligible.

For Secondary Dual Language Immersion programs (Cantonese Immersion, Japanese Bilingual Bicultural, Mandarin Immersion, or Spanish Immersion): Applicants who are not already enrolled in a matching language program in SFUSD need to complete a language assessment in order to be eligible for these programs in 6th-8th grade. 

When: Language assessments for language program eligibility are conducted by the Enrollment Center after the enrollment application is received. Most tests take place during the week, between 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. During Main Round testing, tests are also available on Saturdays. 

• Main Round language testing occurs between November - February 
• Round 2 language testing occurs between April - May
• Language testing for current year enrollment and open enrollment occurs as needed. If you are enrolling outside of an application round, ask an enrollment counselor about completing a language assessment.

Where: Language assessments are conducted in the Enrollment Center office at 555 Franklin St, Room 100. By request, language assessments can also be conducted in the Enrollment Center's Southeast Office at 1520 Oakdale Avenue, Room 13, which is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

If your student is proficient in the program language, you should contact the Enrollment Center to confirm whether they need to complete a language assessment. It is recommended that you contact the Enrollment Center by the application deadline to make an appointment; we cannot guarantee a language assessment after the application deadline.

Phone: (415) 241-6085 | Email: enrollinschool@sfusd.edu

At the same time, the Enrollment Center will also try to determine whether your student needs testing, and we will reach out to you if we determine that they do. We will contact families using the contact information provided (phone, email) to schedule a language assessment when it is necessary for program eligibility.

Language Proficiency - TK-1st

• Students: Grades TK-1st
• Description: The language pathway tests are developed by the Multilingual Pathways Department, and focus on listening and speaking.
• Duration: ~15-20 minutes

Language Proficiency - 2nd-8th

• Students: Grades 2nd-8th
• Description: The language pathway tests are developed by the Multilingual Pathways Department, and focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing. 
• Duration: ~30 minutes to 2 hours

Overview of language assessments for language proficiency

Once the test is completed, it is immediately scored. The staff member who completes the assessment will immediately share the results with the parent/guardian right away, and offer to review program options and support services. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to change the school or program requests on their child’s application if they so choose and/or if their child is not eligible for a selected language program.

• I can't accompany my student?: During the assessment, the student cannot be accompanied in the testing room by a parent, guardian, teacher, chaperone, or other aide. The staff member who is conducting the assessment will introduce themself to the student and guardian, before bringing the student into the testing room alone. Recommendation: Let your student know that you won't be able to join them during the assessment.
• My student didn't exhibit their language skills: During the assessment, the student must demonstrate their proficiency in the language. If students are unresponsive, or they respond completely in English, they will not score high enough on the assessment to pass. Students can only take assessments one time per year — we cannot offer re-testing, even when you think your student's assessment score doesn't reflect how much they know. Recommendation: encourage your student to speak comfortably to the staff member. Let the staff member know if they should do anything small to make your student feel more comfortable.
• My student needs an accommodation: If your student has special education needs that require an accommodation during the language assessment, let us know before the assessment takes place. If they have an Individualized Education Plan, the assessor can review the plan with the Special Education team before the assessment to ensure the student's needs are met. Recommendation: ask the Enrollment Center to connect the language assessor with your student's Special Education case manager.

The home language survey is a series of questions that all families must complete when enrolling a new student. The questions are about which languages a student understands and uses in their home. 

SFUSD uses home language survey responses to determine eligibility for Biliteracy language programs (see the "Who needs to take a language assessment" section for more information). 

Home language survey responses also determine which students are designated as English Learners. Any student who lists a language other than English on one of the first three questions of the home language survey will be assessed to determine their English language skills, using the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessment of California (Initial ELPAC). This assessment is conducted by the school staff during the school year, and does not impact language program eligibility.