Criteria for Determining Who Should Take the PASA
- The student is in grade 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 11; and
- The student has a very severe cognitive disability; and
- The student requires very intensive instruction to learn; and
- The student requires very extensive adaptations and supports in order to perform and/or participate meaningfully and productively in the everyday life activities of integrated school, home, community, and work environments; and
- The student requires very substantial modification of the general education curriculum; and
- The student's participation in the general education curriculum differs very substantially in form and/or substance from that of most other students (i.e., requires modified objectives, materials, and/or activities).
If all of the above criteria are met, it would be appropriate for the IEP team to decide that the student should take the PASA. If the criteria are not met, the student should be assigned to take the PSSA with or without accommodations.