NCPEID: Using the IEP Checklist to Support Physical Education Services (Policy & Advocacy Episode 4)

Hi, I’m Melissa Bittner, Chair of NCPEID’s Policy and Advocacy Committee. This video is part of our ongoing advocacy outreach related to adapted physical education.

The Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is a legally required written plan developed for every public school student who qualifies for special education services. The IEP is created collaboratively by a team that includes educators, specialists, and families. It outlines the student’s unique learning needs, goals, and the special education and related services they will receive.

The IEP must be reviewed and updated at least once a year to ensure it remains appropriate and effective.

To help ensure that physical education is appropriately addressed in the IEP, NCPEID highlights an IEP Checklist for Physical Education Services developed by Scott McNamara, Lauren Lieberman, Brad Weiner, and G. Tuss. This checklist is designed to support teams in discussing and documenting adapted physical education services when needed.

To access the checklist, visit the NCPEID website, click on the Advocacy tab, and select the IEP Checklist from the drop-down menu. You’ll find a hyperlink to the full document.

The checklist includes guidance for:

• Before the IEP meeting
• During the meeting
• What should be included in the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)
• Goals and objectives
• Services and supplemental aids
• Secondary transition considerations
• Additional guiding questions

We hope this resource helps teams collaborate effectively and, most importantly, best serve students in physical education.