Physical Education Independent Study

Physical Education Independent Study

The State Board of Education has provided flexibility to adapt the high school physical education requirements for students who demonstrate proficiency though other means. MarianHigh School is allowed to use multiple means of determining proficiency for students completing the Physical Education I and II courses. The Indiana Academic Standards for Physical Education will still be required but MarianHigh School will have more flexibility in adapting the PE curriculum.

In accordance with the Marian High School mission statement to ‘challenge students to physical excellence and social maturity’ the following requirements have been put forth to provide some students the option of pursuing Physical Education Independent Study credit(s) in lieu of the usual Physical Education credits earned during freshmen year.

This option of pursuing independent study credits is not meant to take the place of PE simply because the student “doesn’t want to take the class”. This option is meant to enrich the academic studies of the student and to provide more room in their schedule to allow for a more rigorous course load. The Guidance Department will continue to schedule incoming students for PE I and II until determined by the instructor and the department head that the student is approved for the independent study Physical Education course.

Requirements include but are not limited to the following:

• To earn an Indiana diploma, students are required to earn two credits in Physical Education. Most students earn these credits through two semesters of Physical Education classes. A second option would be for students to earn one credit through any of our in school Physical Education offerings, and to earn the second credit through Independent Study Physical Education paired with one sport season. The third option is for the student to complete the requirements for two Independent Study Physical Education courses paired with two separate sport seasons. Whichever path the student chooses to earn their two credits in Physical Education, the credits should be completed by the end of the student’s junior year.

• The students participating in the following school sponsored sports are eligible to apply for the independent study course.

Fall Sports:

Cheerleading, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Soccer,

Boys Tennis, Football, Girls Golf, Volleyball

Winter Sports:

Cheerleading, Boys Basketball, Diving, Girls Basketball, Hockey,

Boys and Girls Swimming, Wrestling

Spring Sports:

Baseball, Boys Golf, Boys Rugby, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Girls Tennis,

Softball, Boys and Girls Track and Field,

Year long sports: Poms

• A complete season is defined as from first practice to the final event. Students must remain on the active roster for the entire season. This activity must complete a minimum of 90 hours with 95% attendance.

• Any disciplinary suspensions from the team may result in forfeiture of credit as determined by the instructor. This may include any disciplinary issues that are brought to the attention of the Discipline Committee.

• Student must meet ALL physical education standards as defined by the Indiana Academic Standards for Physical Education.

• Students are responsible for obtaining the requirement packet from the instructor and present it to the coach/facilitator, prior to the first practice of the season(s) in which a credit is being earned.

• At the end of the season(s), the student must obtain the signed verification form from their coach/facilitator and return it in to instructor for credit to be determined. The instructor will get the verification form to the coach/facilitator, but it is the student’s responsibility to return the form to the teacher.

• Credits will be issued through the Physical Education Department by a licensed teacher during the semester(s) in which the season is completed. In addition to the mastery of the physical education standards as provided by the State, there will be additional requirements that pertain to MarianHigh School. The student will have to meet with their overseeing instructor (TBD by instructor and student) on a weekly or bi-monthly basis, the student will be required to take all written tests that are taken in PE I and II, demonstrate proficiency in all skills tests that are administered in PE I and II, and must score in the 90th percentile of the Presidential Physical Fitness Assessment. The student must track all hours of commitment, have a coach/facilitator signature on file, and have the overseeing instructor’s signature on file as well.

• Since credits will be granted based on mastery of the physical education standards, the length of the season should not be an issue as long as the student completes 90 hours in their sport. If the student needs time beyond the season, the PE teacher may continue to work with the student until the standards are met.

• As in traditional PE, if a student is injured and not able to participate, it is still possible to work with that student in determining an alternative adaptive program that would allow the student to complete the standards within the limitations.

• Students may not take the independent study Physical Education course in order to enroll in a study hall.

• The course fee for the independent study Physical Education course is $275 per semester credit. It must be paid, in full to the Teacher of Record prior to beginning the course. After the first week, meaning 7 calendar days, of receiving approval from the Physical Education Department, if the student is unable to continue the course for whatever reason, the student will forfeit the full course fee.