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Adapted Physical Education

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Adapted Physical Education (APE) is provided in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensures that students with disabilities, ages 3–21+, have equitable access to standards-based physical education instruction as part of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). When necessary and appropriate, students may require specially designed instruction in physical education (adapted physical education) to access and make progress toward the Virginia Physical Education Standards of Learning.   

Adapted physical education is a required direct, special education service (not a related service) that addresses the educational impact from a student’s category of disability identified through the special education eligibility process. By adapting instruction and providing appropriate supplemental aids and educational supports, strategies, and goals, this service designs a plan for students with disabilities to make progress toward grade-level curricular physical education standards.  

IDEA Requirements 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act defines physical education as part of special education: 

“Special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and instruction in physical education.” Sec. 300.39.   

Physical education services, specially designed if necessary, must be made available to every student with a disability to receive free and appropriate public education. Each student with a disability must be afforded the opportunity to participate in the regular physical education program available to nondisabled students unless the student needs specially designed physical education (e.g., adapted physical education), as prescribed in the child’s IEP or if the student is enrolled full time in a separate facility. Sec. 300.108. 

Adapted physical education services must be made available to every child with a disability found to require the special education service, even if physical education is not provided to their peers of the same age and grade level. Pg. 46583 of the Federal Register.  

Adapted physical education services can be delivered in the general physical education setting or the special education setting. The special education setting is outside the general education setting with a lower student-to-teacher ratio. This setting can also be a one-on-one setting. All Individualized Education Program (IEP) decisions, including these student placement decisions, are data-driven and made on a case-by-case basis by the IEP team to ensure instruction occurs in the least restrictive environment. 

Eligibility 

Upon parental consent, eligibility for adapted physical education is determined through a comprehensive evaluation process (review of background, existing records, consultation, observation, standardized tool, and informal data) conducted by the physical educator or adapted physical educator. When it is determined by an IEP team that a student’s identified category of disability impacts their educational progress towards grade-level physical education standards, the IEP team may recommend adapted physical education services. 

Teacher Qualifications 

Individuals holding a current Virginia license in Health and Physical Education are qualified to provide adapted physical education services. Further,  professionals can become a nationally certified adapted physical educator (CAPE) through the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) process.  

Resources to Support Adapted Physical Education Instruction

Organizational Resources 

  • Camp Abilities Brockport
  • Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America 
  • Adapted Physical Education Resources for the Teacher’s Toolbox 
  • Center for Movement, Health, & Disability (CMHD) at Old Dominion University 
  • The National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) 
  • Virginia’s Adapted Physical Education Consortium (VAPEC) 

Policy and Procedure Supports 

Professional Development Opportunities 

Continued Education  

University Programs in Adapted Physical Education