Resources for Families of Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Pennsylvania Training
and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)
The Pennsylvania Training and
Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) provides resources and training to
support and promote effective instruction and assessment for students with
significant cognitive disabilities. Publications, instructional resources, and
on-line professional development are available for teachers, paraprofessionals,
parents, and administrators. PASA:
Answers to Questions Frequently Asked by Families is a resource intended for
families and educational teams to assist in understanding information specific
to the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment. This resource has been
updated for the 2020-21 school year and replaces the previously released PASA
Parent Guide.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) will serve
as the PASA assessment and vendor in Pennsylvania for the 2020-21 school year. The DLM website provides information about the test, released ‘testlets’ (which are test item examples), and a variety of instructional resources including books you can read with your child, writing
tools if your child does use a standard pencil or computer keyboard, and communication supports if your child struggles to use speech to communicate. Access
the DLM Parent Brochure (PDF).
PASA Eligibility Criteria IEP Team
Decision Making Companion Tool
Parents play an integral role in the IEP
team decision for a student to qualify to take the PA Alternate System of
Assessment (PASA). Students MUST meet the identified 6 criteria of eligibility, as
determined by the IEP team, to participate in the PASA. The
PASA Eligibility Criteria IEP Team Decision Making Companion Tool contains each of
the six PASA eligibility criteria and relevant additional considerations for
IEP teams to consider when making eligibility decisions.