Re-enacted English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA)
On May 21, 2014, Colorado’s Governor signed HB14-1298 that repealed and re-enacted with amendments to the English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA). The re-enacted ELPA provides funding for Colorado districts with English Learners (ELs).
There is a substantial number of students in Colorado who are English learners; per ELPA, Local education providers or local education agencies (LEAs), must provide evidence-based English language proficiency, or English language development (ELD) programs for English learners to enable them to develop and acquire English language proficiency while achieving and maintaining grade-level performance in academic content areas. To improve the educational and career opportunities for every student in Colorado, the state must ensure support of LEAs to establish evidence-based English language development programs. The state and LEAs must enhance all educators' effectiveness in supporting English language development and in enabling English learners to achieve and maintain grade-level performance in academic content areas. Finally, the state must develop the educational approach and goals of LEAs to help ensure that English learners are postsecondary and workforce ready at graduation.
District requirements under ELPA:
- Follow State guidance to identify English learners
- Report and certify through the Student October Pupil Enrollment collection the numbers and proficiency levels of English learners in the district and the number of ELs who have exited from the program
- Administer and provide evidence-based English language development programs for identified English learner students while also providing access to grade-level content
- Provide professional development to all staff members supporting English learners to enhance their abilities to provide English language development and access to grade-level content
Program Description
- ELPA supports the requirement to provide an evidence-based ELD program for all English learners
- ELPA provides funding based on identified English learners in evidence-based ELD programs for up to a total of five budget years, including prior years of funding
Allocation Information
View 2018-2019 ELPA Allocations
The ELPA program is funded annually on a per pupil basis. The following programs are eligible for funding under ELPA:
- Bilingual Education Programs
- ESL Programs
- Other methods of achieving the English language proficiency
ELPA Reports
The ELPA Report on the Data Pipeline includes the following information: district code, school code and name, student number, grade level, language background code and name, ESL/Bilingual, language proficiency (NEP, LEP, FEP M1, FEP M2), the number of years in the ELPA program, and ELPA funding eligibility.
To access the ELPA Report, go to: Data Pipeline - Cognos Reports - Student October Count - ELPA Report. ELPA allocations are based on the Student October counts from the previous year. For example, the 17-18 report informs the 18-19 funding. Users will need the OCT LEAUSER or LEAAPPROVE role assigned to their account. In order to view the district totals and filter by any category, the reports are best viewed as Microsoft Excel files downloaded to your computer.
ELPA Resources
2000-2010 Report
