TELPAS Alternate Resources
The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) Alternate is a holistic inventory designed to assess the English language proficiency of emergent bilingual (EB) students in grades 2–12 with the most significant cognitive disabilities and address their specific access needs. TELPAS Alternate holistically assesses the listening, speaking, reading, and writing language domains and is based on alternate proficiency level descriptors that are aligned to the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
TELPAS Alternate fulfills the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for assessing the English language proficiency of EB students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
For additional information about the TELPAS Alternate assessment, please refer to the TELPAS Educator Guide.
- TELPAS Alternate Educator Guide (Coming soon)
TELPAS Alternate Transition Years
(2026–2027 and 2027–2028)
In fall 2024, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted new English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). These standards became effective in classrooms beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. As a result, TELPAS Alternate will transition to a new assessment in the 2028–2029 school year.
During the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 transition years, TELPAS Alternate will continue to follow the assessment blueprints currently in place. In addition, the current TELPAS Alternate Observable Behaviors Inventory and Alternate Proficiency Level Descriptors will continue to be used to assess EB students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in grades 2–12 who meet participation requirements.
TELPAS Alternate Transition Years Inventory Review and Development
The TELPAS Alternate Observable Behaviors Inventory used during the transition years was reviewed and approved by educator review committees representing districts from across the state. These committees reviewed the inventory to help ensure that it included only observable behaviors aligned to standards that overlap between the 2007 and 2024 ELPS.
The outcomes of this review are reflected in the transition-years document linked below.
• Grades 2–12 Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing (Updated 8/24/2026)
The TELPAS Alternate Observable Behaviors inventory used to assess students is linked in the What is Tested section of this page.
Who Is Tested?
An EB student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee, in conjunction with the language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC), must determine if the student meets the participation requirements for TELPAS Alternate. All EB students enrolled in Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools in grades 2–12 who meet the participation requirements are required to participate in TELPAS Alternate. EB students are required to be assessed annually with an English language proficiency assessment until they meet EB reclassification criteria.
If an ARD committee determines that a student meets the eligibility criteria for "No Authentic Academic Response" (NAAR) or a "Medical Exception," the student will not be required to participate in TELPAS Alternate.
- STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate NAAR Eligibility Requirements
- STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate NAAR Eligibility Requirements—Spanish
- STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements
- STAAR Alternate 2 and TELPAS Alternate Medical Exception Eligibility Requirements—Spanish
What Is Tested?
- TELPAS Alternate Observable Behaviors
- Observable Behaviors with Classroom Examples
- TELPAS Alternate Blueprints
- TELPAS Alternate Glossary
What Is Reported?
- Proficiency Standards
- Statewide Summary Reports
- Raw Score Conversion Tables
- 2023 Frequency Distribution
What Other Information Is Available?
Test Administration
- District and Campus Coordinator Resources
- TELPAS Alternate Test Administrator Manual (Updated 10/20/2025)
- TELPAS Alternate Proficiency Level Descriptors