Administrative Regulation

AR 6146.11

Instruction

Waiver Of Physical Education Requirement

General

In certain cases where a student in grades 7-10 is participating in regular out-of-school physical education instruction, the student may be excused by the principal from attendance in regular physical education classes.

Criteria

The out-of-school instruction being proposed as a substitute for state mandated physical education shall be approved by the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services and must satisfy the following criteria:

1. The student must be enrolled in grades 7-10. No waiver of state mandated physical education will be granted for students in grades K-6.

2. The instruction must be under the direct supervision of a credentialed or otherwise qualified instructor.

3. The instruction must exceed minimum state and district time requirements for physical education.

4. The instruction must involve training that leads to qualification to participate in regional, state, and/or national competitions including training that qualifies for invitations to regional, state, or national exhibitions and/or performances.

5. The instruction must represent a continuation/extension of the student's past record of involvement in the activity, as evidenced by the number of years the student has been involved in the training and the individual achievement level in the activity in question.

Procedure

1. n those cases where a partial or complete waiver is being requested, the parent/guardian shall submit written application to the principal or. designated school official. The following shall be included:

a. A statement from the out-of-school instructor which cites the instructor's qualifications/credentials.

b. A statement from the instructor which outlines the nature of the planned out-of-school instruction and specifies the time commitment that will be expected of the student.

c. An outline of the student's past record of involvement in the activity and evidence of achievement.

d. A statement signed by the parent/guardian holding the school district harmless from responsibility/liability for any student accident or injury resulting from participation in the out-of-school instruction.

2. Once the application is approved, the student shall initiate a meeting at least once each quarter with the principal or designated school official to review student progress, time schedules and other provisions of the out-of-school activity.

3. At the conclusion of each semester in which the student is exempted from school-conducted physical education classes, the out-of-school instructor shall furnish the principal or designated school official with a written statement of verifying the student's participation in the out-of-school instruction, citing the number of hours that he/she has participated in the instruction, and assessing his/her achievement in such.

Physical Performance Test for California

In order to help determine student achievement. the school shall reserve the right to administer the Physical Performance Test for California (revised) and to require the student to score at or above the 50th percentile on such test.

Visitations by School Personnel

In order to validate the information contained in the application materials as well as the caliber of the outside instruction, school personnel may visit the training site.

Additional Conditions Governing Waivers Involving Intermediate School Students

Intermediate school students (grades 7 and 8) who are granted a waiver from attendance in regular physical education classes shall satisfy the criteria above and shall be placed on a shortened school day (five periods).

Assignment to the library or other classes shall not be permitted. The student's schedule shall be adjusted with an open period during first or sixth period to accommodate the outside training.

Effect on High School Graduation Requirements

Although a student may be excused under this regulation from required physical education classes during a given semester(s) and thus be granted a waiver from satisfying part of the physical education requirement for graduation, approved off-campus physical education instruction shall not affect the total credit requirement for high school graduation. In certain highly extenuating cases, however, the student may, as a result of circumstances stemming from sustained outside physical education training, petition for a waiver in elective courses satisfying the total credit requirement for graduation.

Noncompliance with Terms of Waiver Approval

At any time the student fails to comply with the terms of the off-campus instruction as outlined in the application materials, he/she shall be required to enroll immediately in a regular physical education class.

Regulation PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: May 24, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California