About PAES
What does PAES stand for?
PAES is the Practical Assessment Exploration System. It is a performance-based assessment that evaluates what students can do across five vocational areas by having them perform real work tasks in a structured lab environment.
How long has PAES been around?
PAES has operated as a performance-based assessment business since 1989. Dr. Judith Swisher developed it as a transition teacher in Kansas, and validated it through her doctoral work at the University of Kansas in 1998. Peer-reviewed publication followed in 1999.
Who uses PAES?
Special education teachers, transition coordinators, CTE directors, SPED directors, school psychologists, state Vocational Rehabilitation counselors, workforce board partners, supported employment providers, and international SEND settings. PAES is live in the US, the UK, Canada, and Guam.
What is the instrument-level validation you talk about?
PAES is peer-reviewed in Educational Measurement, Issues and Practice (1999), with a companion paper at AERA the same year. Further peer-reviewed work covers predictive and content validity. This is rare in vocational assessment. Most tools in the space validate program outcomes; PAES validates the measurement itself.
The PAES Lab
How much space does a PAES Lab need?
From 288 to 2,400 square feet. We have documented floor plans at 690, 879, 1,008, 1,016, 1,096, and 1,500+ sq ft. The minimum workable footprint is 450 sq ft. Sink access (built-in or portable) is recommended.
What are the five vocational areas?
Business / Marketing, Construction / Industrial, Consumer / Service, Processing / Production, and Computer Technology. Each area contains 8 to 10 job cards with six progressive difficulty levels.
How many students can a PAES Lab serve?
A full lab serves up to 10 students per session. Smaller labs serve 5 to 8. Labs for students with specialized needs typically run 3 to 5 per session. Labs commonly run 2 to 4 sessions per day, 4 to 5 days per week.
What technology do I need?
2 to 3 tablets (iPad iOS 15.5+ or Android 6.0+, minimum 9.7" screen), 2 to 3 computers with Microsoft Office, a color or black and white printer, a wall clock and calendar, and a dry erase or cork board. Chromebooks do not currently work with the full PAES scoring platform.
Does PAES work offline?
Yes. The PAES Scan App scores offline and syncs when a connection returns. Nothing is lost.
Evidence and outcomes
What do supervisors say about PAES?
In the 2026 Customer Impact Survey (n=308), 82% rated PAES positive overall. 81% said it reveals strengths traditional assessment misses. 86% reported increased student transition readiness. 89% reported improved student motivation. 74% trust PAES data for high-stakes decisions.
Is PAES honest about what it doesn't do well?
Yes. The 2026 survey's weakest item was attendance, with only 53% reporting an improvement. We name it rather than hide it. PAES is not designed as an attendance intervention. Its strength is in what happens once students are in the lab.
What outcome studies exist?
A multi-site outcome study is underway in 2026 across 5 to 8 pilot sites, with first results expected mid-2026. It refreshes the foundational evidence base. Results will be published once they clear academic review.
Can I cite PAES in a grant application?
Yes, and we recommend you do. Peer-reviewed instrument-level validation strengthens applications for Perkins V, IDEA discretionary grants, state transition grants, WIOA Pre-ETS provider contracts, and charitable trust applications. Contact us for citation language.
Pricing and funding
How much does a PAES Lab cost?
Pricing starts at approximately $40,000 for a standard PAES Lab package (US pricing, including equipment, installation, initial training with a certified PAES trainer, and the first year of PAES Scan App access free). Full pricing depends on configuration, regional factors, and additional services. Request a quote for your district or institution.
Are there ongoing costs?
Yes. Expect $500 to $1,000 annually for consumable supplies. The PAES Scan App is subscription-based; pricing depends on seat count. Supervisor training refreshers are available as needed.
How do districts pay for a PAES Lab?
The most common stack in the US is IDEA Part B plus Perkins V plus state-level transition grants, supplemented by local foundation or community funding. In the UK, the mix typically combines Dedicated Schools Grant (High Needs Block), High Needs Provision Capital Allocations, and charitable trust grants. In Canada, special education allocations combine with provincial disability employment services contracts. For the full picture, download the PAES funding guide for your territory.
Can I use Medicaid funding?
In the US, yes, in many cases. Where a PAES assessment is written into a student's IEP as a related service, districts in participating states can claim school-based Medicaid reimbursement for supervisor time. Rules vary by state. Check with your district Medicaid coordinator.
Training and certification
What training is included?
Every new PAES Lab includes on-site setup and a full day of live training with a certified PAES trainer, plus access to thirteen video training modules. Ongoing support is included.
Do supervisors need a specific qualification?
No. PAES is designed to be delivered by trained special education teachers, CTE instructors, transition specialists, paraeducators, VR counselors, and similar supervisors. A data science or research background is not required.
Can my paraeducators and aides use PAES?
Yes, and many do. PAES is structured so that trained paraeducators and aides can supervise sessions and collect observational data under a lead supervisor's oversight.
Is there a certification renewal cycle?
Please contact our team for the current certification cycle details.
Implementation and roll-out
How long does a full implementation take?
From order to first student, a typical PAES Lab is operational in 8 to 12 weeks. That includes space planning, equipment delivery, on-site setup, and supervisor training.
How long is a typical assessment cycle?
A full cycle is 12 to 18 weeks, with students in the lab 2 to 4 times per week. Shorter cycles are possible for specific use cases (summer programs, short-cycle Pre-ETS cohorts, adult assessment).
What happens at the end of the cycle?
Supervisors export the accumulated data to a detailed student report that feeds into IEPs, transition plans, and post-secondary pathway conversations. 76% of supervisors rate the PAES report as useful for planning and decisions (C13).
Do I need PAES-specific furniture?
Standard classroom and workplace furniture is suitable: 1 check-in table, 1 seated-height sewing table, 1 pipe assembly table, 3 business/computer tables, 5 student chairs, 3 to 4 standing-height worktables, 1 supervisor desk, 1 storage cabinet. Most schools already have equivalents or can source locally.
International
Does PAES work outside the US?
Yes. PAES is live in the UK at Lighthouse Futures Trust in Leeds, in Canada through an active customer contract, and in Guam. The PAES program and scoring are stable across jurisdictions; task context and equipment (metric measurements, local currency in the Business area, UK electrical fittings) can be localized.
Does PAES align with the UK SEND framework?
Yes. PAES outputs align with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), the "preparation for adulthood" outcomes in the SEND Code of Practice, Ofsted inspection frameworks for specialist provision, and 16 to 19 Study Program requirements for work-related learning.
Are you available for pilots outside the US?
We are open to partner conversations in regions where we do not yet have direct coverage. Contact our international team.
Privacy and data
How is student data handled by the PAES Scan App?
Students are identified by a QR code and a first name or alias only. No personally identifiable information is collected or stored in the app. All data syncs are encrypted. Districts with strict data handling requirements can operate the app in local-only mode.
Does PAES share student data?
No. PAES data stays within your institution unless you explicitly export it or authorise sharing (for example, with a VR counselor under an IEP-authorised agreement).
Still have a question?
Contact our team at info@paesauthor.com or call (805) 286-7513. For existing sites with support questions, reach out to support@paesauthor.com. For conversations about how PAES could work in your setting, find your regional representative at Find Your Regional Rep.
Still have a question?
Contact our team at info@paesauthor.com or call (805) 286-7513. For conversations about how PAES could work in your setting, find your regional rep.