TELPAS FAQs

Students in grades K–12 that have been identified as an emergent bilingual (EB) student are required to take TELPAS. This includes EB students whose parents have declined bilingual or English as a Second Language (ESL) program services.

In grades K–1, TELPAS includes teacher evaluations of students in listening, speaking, reading, and writing based on ongoing classroom observations and student interactions. In grades 2–12, TELPAS includes online listening and speaking tests and reading and writing tests. The online TELPAS tests are designed to measure a student’s ability to listen, speak, read, and write in English as the student is learning the English language. To see sample test questions go to the Practice and Released Tests page page.

A student will no longer need to take TELPAS when their language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) determines that they are proficient in the English language and have met the state’s EB reclassification criteria. This applies to all EB students, even those who are not participating in a bilingual or ESL program. Once a student has met the state’s reclassification criteria and is reclassified, they will no longer be identified as an EB student and will not have to participate in TELPAS. Information about the state’s reclassification criteria can be found at  Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education Programs.

TEA has developed the TELPAS Alternate assessment to meet the federal requirements mandated under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires states to administer an alternate English language proficiency (ELP) assessment for EB students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in the general ELP assessment, even with allowable accommodations.

The basic checklist for parents to help their child be ready for TELPAS tests includes:

• Setting regular teacher meetings to discuss goals
• Making sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before test day

TELPAS uses four proficiency ratings—Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced High—to show the progress students make in learning English from year to year. For students to reach their full academic potential, it is important for them to make steady progress in learning English. Your child’s proficiency ratings in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will give you a good idea about the progress he or she is making. Students who do not make steady progress may require additional assistance at school.

For assistance with or questions about any assessment program, please contact the Student Assessment Division of the Texas Education Agency using the Student Assessment Help Desk or by calling (512) 463-9536.