The PASA is appropriate for a very small number of students with severe disabilities who meet criteria established and disseminated by the Bureau of Special Education, PA Department of Education. Individual IEP teams review these specific criteria and determine whether a student with disabilities will take the standard Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), the PSSA with accommodations, or the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA). It is expected that fewer than 1% of students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be assessed with the PASA.

The alternate assessment is appropriate for students who have significant cognitive disabilities, and who require intensive instruction and extensive support in order to perform and/or participate meaningfully and productively in the every day activities of integrated school, home, community and work environments. These students require substantial modifications of the general education curriculum as well as instruction in areas not presently assessed by the PSSA.

Specific eligibility criteria have been established. Profiles of students who are likely to be considered for participation in the PASA are provided. Additionally, descriptions of students for whom the PASA is not appropriate are also included. Information regarding why students with severe disabilities are included in the assessment is also available.