APENS and Highly Qualified Teachers YouTube Link: West Chester University KIN: 587 Jenna Filipone

OBJECTIVES:  What is a highly qualified APE teacher?  What is the APENS? (Background and History)  What is the criterion for being eligible to take the APENS?  How is the exam structured? Cost? Location of Exam?  What is the criteria for being CAPE certified?  What are the benefits of being CAPE certified?

History of APE  Specialization of APE  1990-IDEA passed requiring all people with disabilities who were school age to have access to PE in normal school environment.  Spring NCPERID, NASDE and Special Olympic International  “Action Seminar Barriers  Addressing Concerns…  NCCPERID established standards for APE and means to evaluate standards  Five years to establish national standards and national certification program

Purpose and Development for Being “Highly Qualified”  To inform PE and APE of the necessary required knowledge and skills needed to be a highly qualified APE teacher  2006 AAHPERD convention  APAC (Adapted Physical Activity Council) and AAPAR (American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation) form a committee to define “highly qualified”  Open Forum to discuss and develop guidelines  May 2007 – Final draft made  Winter 2008 – AAHPERD board approved guidelines for “highly qualified”

Criteria for Highly Qualified  To be a Highly Qualified APE…  Bachelor’s degree in PE teacher education AND state license to teach PE  Twelve semester hours specifically addressing the educational needs of students with disabilities, with a minimum of 9 semester hours specific to the area of APE  Minimum of 150 hours of practicum experiences  Professional preparation programs must be based on standards (state or national) for APE  High levels of physical and motor fitness, skills in aquatics, games, rhythms, dance and sports, and use of leisure time to engage in vigorous health related Physical activity

COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE & SKILL…  Required Course Work…  Recommended content from a minimum of 12 semester hours addressing the needs of children with disabilities  PE content Knowledge  Safety  Disability studies  Motor assessment of individuals with disabilities  Report writing  Special education law  Development of IEPs  Adaptions and modifications for PE  Behavior Management  Collaboration and consultation  Advocacy and Inclusion practices  Community and family resources  Professional leadership  Assistive technology for PE

15 Standards of Specialized Knowledge  Human Development  Motor Behavior  Exercise Science  Measurement and Evaluation  History and Philosophy  Unique Attributes of Leaners  Curriculum Theory and Development  Assessment  Instructional Design and Planning  Teaching  Consultation and Staff Development  Student and Program Evaluation  Continuing Education  Ethics  Communication

15 Areas of Specialized Knowledge: Content Standards  Content in each standard was divided into 5 levels  Level 1- Standard Number and Name  Level 2- Major components of the standard  Level 3- sub components of the standard, dependent pieces of knowledge or facts related to the major component that all GPE teachers would need to know  Level 1-3 represents info all PE teachers should know  Level 5- Application of APE content knowledge from level 4 to teaching individuals with disabilities

APE Certification  APENS continues to…  Working with states to adopt APENS certification  Provide assistance to individual CAPE wishing to gain recognition from their school boards  Becoming CAPE you receive…  Teacher certification for a period of 7 years  Listed in the NSPERID’s national registry of certified APE  1 year members to NCPERID’s  Able to list the initials CAPE after their name  Gain professional recognition and commensurate compensation  Who can be certified  Three Categories for being eligible for certification  Recently graduated, qualified PE teacher  Professional PE teachers (>10 years full time experience)  Persons teaching in Higher Education and Academic Programs

Methods for becoming CAPE  Method 1: Take the APENS National Crepitation Exam  Method 2: Document Your Professional Experience  Professional PE (10+ years of experience)  Valid GPE teaching cert  Minimum of 10 yrs FT teaching experience in PE with students with disabilities  Accrued 15 points for the following categories over the past 7 years o Elected official or board member of 1 state or national APE/sport organization for a minimum of 1 year Provided a presentation or in-service at a state or national level related to APE o Taken and passed a 3 credit hour college/university grad level course in APE o Possessed a valid APE state licensure/endorsement which required the successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester credit courses in APE o Supervised interns or student teaches in APE for a minimum of 200 hours

Methods for becoming APE (continued)  Method 3: Document your high education or institutional involvement o OPTION 1: Provide verification of documentation of each of the following o Major in PE, APE, Special Edu, or related area in doctoral program o Taught a minimum of 2 years in the area of APE o Minimum of 9 semester hours of supervising college/university students related to the direct instruction of students with disabilities in PE environment o OPTION 2: o Provide verification or documentation of tenure and significant APE teaching responsibilities since 1993 o Can apply to become CAPE certified without taking the examination IF they meet the alternative criteria described in section #2 of the application  Questions, Comments or Concerns contact… or at

FYI: APEN EXAM  When and Where is the Exam Taken?  Taken at any school on any date throughout the academic year  Also taken at the annual National AAHPERD conference  How much does the APEN Exam Cost?  APENS National Certification fee is $  How Is The Exam Formatted?  100 multiple choice questions  Who endorsee's the APEN’s  American Association for Physical activity and recreation  Adapted Physical Activity Council  National Association for Sport and PE  American Association of School Administrators  National Association of State Directors of Special Edu  National Association of Secondary School Principles

Preparing for APENs Exam  Adapted Physical Education Nation Standards – 2 nd Edition  COST: $40.00  Adapted Physical Education Nation Standards Study Guide  COST: $28.00  Send check or money order to APENS, E224 Park Center, Department of Physical Education, SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY  Adapted Physical Education Nation Standards Professional Prep (Online Study Course)  COST:$150.00

States requiring APE Certification  APE certification or endorsement  California, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, & Wyoming  Dual Endorsement for PE and APE  Indiana  Attempting to get APE certification  South Dakota and Texas  Dropped APE certification  Arkansas and Kansas

APE Evaluation Check List: Move Toward Excellence  My district/county has an adapted physical education (APE teacher.  I know who the assigned APE teacher is at my school should I need assistance  The APE teacher is my school has a BA/BS in teaching physical education  The APE teacher in my school has 12+ semester hours of coursework related specifically to teaching physical education to individuals with disabilities  The APE teacher in my school was trained in a college program that is based on standards (state or national) for adapted physical education  The APE teacher serving my school had preservice training in the age group they are currently working with  I have ample equipment for each student to participate in my program  I have ample facilities and space for instruction of quality physical education for all my students, including students with disabilities  I am familiar with all students with disabilities in my program and have seen their files (IEPs) and know of any medical considerations in teaching PLEASE me your answers at

SUMMARY  What is a highly qualified APE teacher?  What started the APENS? (Background and History)  What is the criterion for being eligible to take the APENS?  How is the exam structured? Cost? Location of Exam?  What is the criteria for being CAPE certified?  What are the benefits of being CAPE certified?

WORK CITED  Adapted Physical Activity Council of the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation & NCPERID. (2010). Position Paper: Highly Qualified Adapted Physical Education Teachers. Retrieved December 3, 2012 from www. Aapar.org  Adapted Physical Education National Standards (2008).15 Standards of Specialized Knowledge. Retrieved December 3, 2012 from  Adapted Physical Education National Standards (2008). Apens Exam. Retrieved December 3, 2012 from  Adapted Physical Education National Standards (2008). Apens History. Retrieved December 3, 2012 from  Adapted Physical Education National Standards (2008).Certification. Retrieved December 3, 2012 from  Lyle, R., Lavay, B., & Rizzo, T. (2010). What is a highly qualified Adapted Physical Education Teacher? JOPERD, 81(2)  Wright, Peter W., &Wright, Pamala Darr. ( ). Physical Education (PE) & Adapted Physical Education (APE). Retrieved on December 3, 2012 from Wrightslaw.com.info/pe/index.htm