Elementary Special Education Peeps!

Adapted Physical Education (APE) is only for students with physical disabilities.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Adapted physical education is for any student who is unable to access physical education after interventio

Students must receive occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) services in order to be eligible for APE services.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Although, there are some students who receive services for both PT and OT who may also qualify for APE services - OT and PT are not required.

A certified physical education teacher is the only person who can complete an assessment, write the evaluation, and recommend APE services.

• True, only certified PE professionals can do this work.

• False, PT or OTs can do this work.

• False, anyone can place APE services on the student's IEP.

Answer explanation

Per COMAR, the only person that can complete this work is a certified physical education teacher or adapted physical education content specialist (Karen Kart). The APE process can be found on the APE Flow Chart: https://tinyurl.com/MCPSAPEFlowChart

We recommend that PT/OT professionals who support students be contacted when a student also has APE services.

A paraprofessional can teach a class of adapted physical education students without a physical education teacher.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The only person who can teach an physical educaiton class for students receiving APE services is a certified physical education teacher.

If your school should prioritize the needs of students with disabilities and allocate the class with high needs to the full-time teacher. We need the FT PE teacher available for IEP meetings.

A great resource for paraprofessionals in PE can be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VBWNOnu53g558xI3yXI37PTE15osuLGXoDcjAue9DHU/present?slide=id.p28

Physical Education teachers should be involved in IEP meetings when a student has APE services.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Physical education teahers have valuable information to share with families regarding their child. Notes are great but the person speaking about a student's abilities is always better!

Please work to get coverage for the physical educaiton teacher to attend IEP meetings.

MSDE Guidebook for Serving Student with Disabilities in Physical Educaiton is linked here: https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/PE/MDAPEStateGuide.pdf

Choose 2 answers below to complete this sentence starter:

An adapted physical education program...

• may be conducted within a regualr PE class.

• is a specially designed program aligned to a student's needs.

• can be conducted by a physical therapist (PT).

Answer explanation

The service of adapted physical education can be supported within the general physical education setting.

The specific goals developed for a student is part of their individualized program (IEP).

A physical therapist can support the PE curriculum and work on goals in the PE setting. PT does not replace PE services or vice versa.

All students in School Community Based (SCB) programs are automatically in an separate APE class.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Since APE is a service and not a setting there are not specific classes.

Students in SCB may attend PE at the same time and together if it meets the curricular and safety needs of the students.

A separate or "outside of general education" must be recommended and noted on the IEP.

APE should mirror the PE curriculum and include accommodations for the students with disabilities.

• True, but it may look different!

• False, APE is completed different.

Answer explanation

A student's IEP will drive the service.

Student's with alternative learning outcomes (ALO) will have modified grade-level outcomes to meet their cognitive or physical differences within standards-based physical education.

A great resource about ALO in PE can be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O_5a98Gh4nBlaqMwc3coMYQJz59xICZd2zuS88jmFc0/edit?usp=sharing

The IEP team can add APE services without an assessment and evaluation?

• True, go ahead... click the box without asking for authorization :(

• False, families have to authorize assessment and a 90-day window for completion begins (new services).

Answer explanation

Please see the eligibility for APE services statement: https://www.shapeamerica.org/uploads/pdfs/2018/position-statements/Eligibility-Criteria-for-Adapted-PE_rebranded_final.pdf

Here is MCPS' authorization form: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/336-31.pdf