FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ballard & Tighe’s IPT Early Childhood English Language Screener Approved by California Department of Education (CDE) for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Voluntary implementation 2026–27, statewide rollout 2027–28
BREA, CA — April 15, 2026 — The California Department of Education (CDE) has approved Ballard & Tighe’s IPT Early Childhood test for screening multilingual learners in Transitional Kindergarten (TK). Ballard & Tighe, Publishers, a leader in English language development materials for over 50 years, will support districts implementing the approved solution.
Created specifically for children ages 3–5, the assessment features separate, age-appropriate test forms for three age groups, providing accurate results aligned to each stage of development. Students demonstrate their understanding and expressive language capabilities in a structured interview setting using a hands-on storyboard and manipulatives, supporting interaction and active demonstration vs. a response-only format for a well-rounded measure of spoken interaction.
The platform supports ease of implementation with streamlined setup, intuitive administration, and timely results to inform instructional planning. It also includes clear, family-friendly parent letters in multiple languages that communicate results in an accessible way, helping strengthen home–school connections.
2026–27 Voluntary Participation
Following CDE approval, Ballard & Tighe will be supporting local educational agencies (LEAs) participating in the 2026–27 voluntary implementation period for the TK Multilingual Learner Screener.
Districts participating in the voluntary field test can:
- Prepare ahead of the statewide rollout in 2027-28
- Train staff and refine local processes
- Implement with guided onboarding and support
Ballard & Tighe will be working with districts across California to support implementation planning, training, and onboarding both for the voluntary field test period in 2026-27 and for the statewide rollout in 2027-28.
For more information, contact Lori Hill at lhill@ballard-tighe.com.
About Ballard & Tighe, Publishers
Ballard & Tighe is a leading provider of English language development assessments and instructional programs for K–12 learners. For over 50 years, the company has supported educators with reliable tools for student identification, placement, and progress monitoring.
