Option II for HPE 

Overview of Option II for Graduation Requirements

The 120 credit requirement set forth may be met in whole or in part through program completion (commonly referred to as "Option II"). 

The January 2004 amendment to N.J.A.C 6A:8-5.1(a)1 clarifies that the Board of Education, in developing their graduation requirements may use a combination of Option I and Option II rather than limiting themselves to only one of the Options. Under Option II, the Board of Education may utilize performance or competency assessment to approve student completion of programs aimed at meeting or exceeding the Core Curriculum Content Standards at the secondary level, including those occurring all or in part prior to a student’s high school enrollment.  

Courses may be taken for credit through Option II only under one of three scenarios: 

1.  The student failed the course and must remediate. 

2.  The course/experience is not offered at Ridge High School. 

3.  Students participating in Ridge Athletics or an approved off-site activity may apply for Option II for Physical Education.

All academic courses that will count toward graduation, including health, must be taken at Ridge. Exceptions may be made for those students who are enrolled in the Shared-Time program with Somerset County Vocational-Technical High School. 

The name of the course/experience, Pass/Fail grade, and appropriate credits will be recorded on the RHS transcript for students approved for said alternative course work upon completion of the course. Students will be responsible for sending an official transcript confirming the successful completion of the course to the Counseling Office. The grade will be recorded as Pass/Fail, and no adjustment will be made to the student’s GPA. The expectation is that the courses will be completed during the time specified on the approval form. The transcript will denote coursework as per the protocol described in the RHS Program of Studies under "Grade Reporting." 

All courses must be approved prior to enrolling; students may not apply for Option II after they have completed a course. Courses taken prior to the official start of a student’s freshman year (September 1st) will not appear on the Ridge transcript under any circumstances.  Courses/experiences must be paid for by the student's parent(s) or guardian(s).

Any student interested in Option II opportunities should read the descriptions of qualifying activities carefully before beginning an application.  

Option II Athletics Policies and Procedures 2022-2023

Please read carefully before applying:

General Guidelines for Option II Physical Education (Ridge Athletics and Off-Site)

• Applications must be submitted online; no paper copies will be accepted

• Students may replace PE with a study hall only (two study halls are acceptable); students may not replace PE with a class

• Students are NOT eligible for Option II as follows:

  • Freshmen MP1-4

  • Sophomores - MP1, MP2

  • Juniors - MP3

  • Seniors - MP2 (and MP1 for Peer Leaders)

• Students must complete an application process (Please save the submitted response email you receive upon submission of the application).

  • Onsite

    • Students are eligible for Option II for the Ridge Athletics during the following marking periods:

      1. Fall Sport (MP1)

      2. Winter Sport (Juniors: MP2, Seniors & Sophomores: MP3)

      3. Spring Sports (MP4)

  • Offsite PE Option II Application:

    • Off-site PE Applications HERE - Due dates below

      1. Students may apply for multiple marking periods for the same activity on one application

Sample Off-Site Activity Description (needed for off-site application) linked HERE Due dates below

• • Students must submit a new application each marking period by the following deadlines: 

    • Fall Sports/MP1: August 10, 2023 @midnight (Updated due date)

    • Winter Sports/MP2: October 16, 2023 @3pm

    • MP3 (off site only): January 3, 2024 @3pm

    • MP4: March 11, 2024 @3pm

Deadlines are firm and no exceptions will be made for applications not submitted on or before the set date.

• Students who sign up for Option II Sports and do not complete the tryout process, will fail Option II for the marking period unless they inform the Option II Coordinator within the first week of the marking period.

• Option II is a pass/fail course.  Students must meet the minimum program requirements in order to earn a passing grade.  A pass will be reflected as a P on their report card/transcript, and a failure will be recorded as an E.

• Students will be required to complete and hand in an end of marking period self-assessment/ reflection along with the evaluation form.

• Students at Ridge High School are required to earn a minimum of 3.75 credits of PE/Health each school year. If a student fails to earn a minimum of 3.75 credits of PE/Health for whatever reason, the student will need to be scheduled for a makeup class(es).  Makeup PE must be taken at Ridge; Option II will not fulfill this requirement.

• The majority of correspondence regarding Option II takes place via email.  Students should be accessing their @bernardsboe.com email accounts regularly for current Option II information.

• RHS Dance Team/Collective now qualifies for RHS on-site Option II.  Students must participate in both in order to qualify.  

General Information

• Students will need to apply for Option II prior to try-outs.  Please see below:

  1. 1. 1. Students who are cut from a Ridge Sport after they apply  or who quit a Ridge Sports team/decide not to try out must contact Ms. Howarth and Ms. Eckel.

        2. Students who sign up for Option II Sports and do not complete the tryout process, will fail Option II for the marking period unless they inform the Option II Coordinator (Ms. Howarth) within the first week of the marking period.

• Any change in status on a team-- cut, quit, injury, etc.-- must be reported to the Option II Coordinator, Mrs. Howarth, immediately.  Injuries must also be reported to the Ridge Health Office immediately.  Failure to do so may result in a failing grade for the marking period and/or the need to make up a quarter of PE.

• Any student participating in Marching Band may apply for Option II Ridge Sports during the fall.

• Ridge Rugby is considered Off-Site experience, as it is not coordinated through the Athletics Department.

• Dance Team is now eligible for Option II onsite.  Athletes must participate in BOTH Dance Team and Collective.

• Students will be required to complete and hand in an end of marking period self-assessment/ reflection along with the evaluation form.

In addition to the above, the following rules also apply for Ridge Athletics:

Fall Athletes  (APPLICATION)

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for Marking Period 1 only

• Students playing Option II Fall Sports will be awarded 1.25 credits through Option II at the conclusion of MP1 if complete their season

• Participation in a fall sport will allow students to take study hall in lieu of PE for Marking Period 1 (assuming they do not have Health, Project Adventure or Driver’s Education).

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Fall Sport” with the  P (for pass) or E (for fail) grade issued for Marking Period 1 upon receipt of the rubric from the coach.

Winter Athletes (APPLICATION)

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for the following:

  1. 1. 1. Juniors: MP2

        2. Seniors: MP3

        3. Sophomores: MP3

• Students playing Option II Winter Sports will be eligible to earn 1.25 credits through Option II after successful completion of the season.

• Participation in a winter sport will allow students to take study hall in lieu of PE

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Winter Sport” with the P (for pass) or E (for fail) grade issued for Marking Period 2 upon receipt of the rubric from the coach.

Spring Athletes (APPLICATION)

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for Marking Period 4 only

• Students playing Option II Spring Sports will be eligible to earn 1.25 credits through Option II after successful completion of the season.

• Participation in a spring sport will allow students to take study hall in lieu of PE for Marking Period 4 (assuming they do not have health).

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Spring Sport” with the P or E grade issued for Marking Period 4 upon receipt of the rubric from the coach.

Option II Offsite Physical Education Application & Criteria

All applications will be reviewed by an Option II Offsite Physical Education committee for approval. 

The following criteria must be adhered to when applying for Option II Offsite Physical Education:

• The student is in grades 10, 11, or 12 and is enrolled in Physical Education for the respective marking period (student must enroll in Health)

• The student has not failed a marking period of Physical Education and/or Option II previously.

• Students may fill out one application for multiple marking periods as long as their offsite activity is the same for all

• The student must submit an application to the Option II Physical Education Committee for approval of the proposed activity.  The activity should meet the following guidelines:

  • The activity must make progress towards meeting the NJ Physical Education Core Standards: 

    • Movement Skills & Concepts: How to effectively and safely move our bodies 

    • Physical Fitness: How strength & conditioning and fitness principles are applied to movement

    • Lifelong Fitness: The importance of engaging in activities throughout the lifespan

  • The activity requires a commitment of time and energy that significantly limits the student’s ability to meet academic demands, such that the student would benefit from additional time during the school day to maintain academic progress.  These programs:

    • include continuous high-level training, practice, performance, and/or competition in an athletic or physical activity;

    • prepare student/athletes for an end-goal or culminating event (the event may or may not occur within the specific marking period);

    • meet at least three/four days a week for a minimum average of 300 minutes per week;

      1. if you feel your activity meets this requirement within a different structure, please apply and it will be reviewed.

    • meet throughout the duration of the marking period applied for.

    • are overseen by an adult (not a parent of the student) who is a trained professional in a field related to wellness/physical fitness.

•  Deadlines are firm and no exceptions will be made for applications not submitted on or before the set date.

CLICK for Off Site Application