Adapted Physical Education is physical education that has been adapted or modified, so that it is as appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability.
The APE teacher is a direct service, not a related service because physical education for children with disabilities is a federally mandated component of special education services [U.S.C.A. 1402 (25)]. This means that physical education needs to be provided to the student with a disability as part of the special education services that the child and family receive. This is contrasted with physical therapy and occupational therapy, which are related services. These therapies are provided to the child with disabilities only if he/she needs them to benefit from instruction.
https://www.apens.org/whatisape.html
Program Description
Adapted Physical Education (APE) is a comprehensive, specially designed instructional program in physical education. The APE program may be provided to students that receive physical education and qualify for special education services.
Student Eligibility
All students referred for an Adapted Physical Education evaluation must have an identified disability and a deficit in their motor skills. Students for whom some or all of the PE TEKS are not appropriate will need an APE evaluation.
Service Delivery Models
Special Education students who are eligible to receive APE services may be served through direct or indirect services.
Direct services will be indicated on the schedule of services page of the student’s IEP. An APE goal with objectives will be developed.
Consult or indirect services will be indicated on the Schedule of Services and accommodations and may include Adapted Instruction, Adapted Materials, or Required Equipment, depending on the type of services needed. An APE Goal with objectives is not needed.
Referral Procedures
Prior to referring a student for an APE evaluation, the student must be eligible for Special Education and have a current Full Individual Evaluation (FIE). For initial evaluations with a suspicion of the need for APE, please contact the APE teacher assigned to the campus.
If an assessment is indicated, the APE teacher assigned to the campus must be invited to the ARDC meeting to review existing evaluation data (REED) and plan for the assessment.
Adapted Physical Education Report
Upon completion of the evaluation for APE, the APE personnel shall notify the campus coordinator and provide the ARDC and parent with a copy of the Adapted Physical Education Eligibility Report, including recommendations for APE services, if indicated. The APE report will be written/integrated within the FIE/REED All-In-One on Project Education (SPED). The APE teacher will sign the FIE along with the diagnostician and other appropriate assessment team members. When the APE assessment is requested after an FIE/REED All-In-One is completed, the diagnostician will add an addendum to the FIE. The APE report will be written/integrated within the FIE/REED All-In-One on Project Education (SPED). The APE teacher will sign the FIE addendum along with the diagnostician and other appropriate assessment team members.
Dismissal from APE Services
When a student no longer needs APE services, the APE teacher will complete an evaluation and address dismissal at an ARD. The APE report will be written/integrated within the FIE/REED All-In-One on Project Education (SPED). The APE teacher will sign the FIE along with the diagnostician and other appropriate assessment team members. The diagnostician will amend the FIE/REED All-In-One on Project Education (SPED) to show dismissal from APE services. If the dismissal is part of a Reevaluation, the information from the APE teacher, based on informal observation, will be entered into the Physical section of the document, with the remainder completed by the diagnostician and other assessment team members as appropriate to complete the FIE/REED All-In-One. The final decision on dismissing a student from APE services is an ARDC/IEP team decision. The ARDC/IEP team should also complete a Prior Written Notice form indicating a proposal to dismiss the student from APE services.
ARD Meetings
ARDC meetings should be attended by APE personnel when presenting an initial evaluation, reevaluation, or when dismissing a student from APE services. All other ARD meetings will be attended by APE personnel if requested by committee members. The APE teacher will complete a PLAAFP statement to be included in the IEP and discussed during the ARDC/IEP team meeting and guide the campus coordinator in completing the schedule of services page.