Policies and Procedures Handbook |
Created by the Resource Center Contact the Webmaster Last Updated: 05/19/2010 |
Garrett County Board of Education 40 South Second Street Oakland, MD 21550 (301)334-8900 |
Physical Education and Athletic Programs for Students with Disabilities
Administrative Procedure
The Board of Education believes in the importance of offering physical education and athletic programs to all students. Appropriate and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities shall be provided. For the purpose of administering Board Policy 345.2, the following procedure will be used by staff.
A. Physical Education
1. All students with disabilities shall have an equal opportunity to participate in mainstream physical education.
2. Garrett County Public Schools shall provide adapted physical education for students as required by Individual Education Plans (IEP) and 504 plans.
B. Interscholastic Athletics
1. Student Eligibility Determination
a. All students who meet state and local eligibility criteria are permitted the opportunity to try out for the mainstream interscholastic athletic program.
b. Students with disabilities who meet the eligibility requirements shall not be excluded from the tryout unless inclusion presents an objective safety risk to the student or others based on an individualized assessment of the student or fundamentally alters the nature of the mainstream athletic program. During the try out, a student with disabilities shall be allowed to use whatever modification or aids he/she usually uses to play the sport.
c. The head coach determines the final roster for his/her team. That determination is made as a result of skill testing, competitive demeanor, and the student’s ability to function within a team environment.
2. School Activities Review/Evaluation Committee
a. The School System shall convene the School Activities Review/Evaluation Committee, at least annually, to maximize student opportunities and provide guidance for coaches.
b. Upon the request of a student, teacher, parent, coach, or administrator, any student with an IEP or 504 Plan who wishes to participate in the mainstream interscholastic athletic program is referred to the School Activities Review/Evaluation Committee who will consider the eligibility of each student on a case-by-case basis. The committee shall conduct a review of the student and the sport, consult with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) as needed, and determine the accommodations or modifications necessary to enable the individual student’s participation.
c. To make its determination, the committee shall apply the following four point criteria. Do the accommodations or modifications:
-fundamentally alter the sport?
- provide a competitive advantage to the student?
-competitively disadvantage other participants?
-significantly increase the risk of injury for the student or other athletes?
d. The School Activities Review/Evaluation Committee shall render one of the following determinations for each student referred:
-the student is able to participate in the interscholastic athletic program with accommodations;
-the student is able to participate against or alongside other athletes in individual events with allowable accommodations or
modifications; or
-the student is unable to participate in individual or team sports because of the necessary accommodations; and
-the student shall be offered the opportunity to participate in an equivalent athletic program.
Sources: Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Act 2008
§ 7-4B Annotated Code of Maryland
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Pupil Services 345.21 JK/LB Adopted 03/09/2010 |