Independent Study PE

Independent Study Physical Education

The purpose of the HBCSD Independent Study Physical Education (ISPE) program is to provide an alternative to the regular physical education or athletics classroom while remaining consistent with the HBCSD course of study and CA State Physical Education Framework for physical education.

Students who participate in the ISPE program are engaged in advanced levels of competition, not recreational sports or most club-level individual/team participation. The program is designed for students who are engaged in a preparation program for National, State, or Olympic-level athletic competition. ISPE is available for eligible students in grades 6-8.

Criteria for Eligibility

1. The student shall participate in supervised instruction, which may include training, competition, and/or performance, for a minimum of ten (10) hours every five school days (Monday through Friday).
2. The student must have an overall minimum 2.5 grade point average, no “Unsatisfactory” grades in citizenship, and consistently good attendance/behavior.
3. Documentation of competition and/or performance at the Regional (Northern, Central, or Southern California), State, or National level. (Examples of documentation may include videotape or photographs of performance, award/place/participation certificates, meet/event participant lists, and newspaper listings stating participant’s information).
4. All students in grade 7 are required to complete and pass The California Physical Fitness Test (CA PFT) and FITNESSGRAM in five categories (Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, and Flexibility) prior to eligibility to participate in ISPE. Administration of the CA PFT will take place prior to the beginning of each school year for interested students.
5. For each semester of continued enrollment in the program, the student must maintain an overall minimum 2.5 grade point average, no “Unsatisfactory” grades in citizenship, and consistently good attendance/behavior.
6. Behavior infractions of a serious nature, including school suspensions, may result in loss of eligibility for ISPE. Attendance, behavior, and academic records will be reviewed on a regular basis.
7. Students must complete an HBCSD ISPE Individualized Learning Plan and obtain signatures from the parent/guardian as well as the coach/instructor as part of the ISPE application process.
8. The parent/guardian agrees to undertake all transportation of the student to and from ISPE activities, events, and competitions. The District is not responsible for providing any transportation.
9. The parent/guardian and the student will be required to sign the HBCSD Parent/Guardian Waiver, Release of Liability, Indemnity Agreement, and Assumption of Risk for Participation in ISPE and the HBCSD Hold Harmless Agreement ISPE, which hold the District harmless from any liability or claims as a result of participation in the ISPE program.
10. All ISPE instructors/coaches are required to sign an HBCSD Hold Harmless Agreement ISPE.
11. The Hermosa Valley Middle School - Independent Study Physical Education Activities Log must be submitted two weeks before the end of the semester through the ISPE Activity Log 2024-2025 Google Form. No paper or emailed Activity Logs will be accepted. Failure to complete time requirements or failure to submit completed logs may result in loss of credit and removal from ISPE for the following semester.
12. Any behavior infractions, including school suspensions, may result in loss of eligibility for ISPE.
13. Accumulating five or more tardies within a single month will result in removal from the ISPE program.

Please note: Failure to meet the criteria above will result in a failing grade and removal from the ISPE program. The student will then be placed into their grade-level physical education course.

Other Program Components

• Students will not be required to participate in an additional elective course to replace the regular, on-campus physical education class. The ISPE class period will either be placed at the beginning or end of the school day (dependent on the sport/training schedule). Students accepted to ISPE will be released from school during the 6th period. Parents may pick up students at the Valley front office.
• ISPE is a PASS/FAIL course only. No letter grade will be assigned.

These are the six routing steps your student-athlete ISPE application will go through:

1. Parent - Initiate.
2. Instructor/Coach - Review, sign, and send back to the parent.
3. Parent - Review and submit to the Valley Administrative Assistant. Please Note: Submission of an application does not constitute approval.
4. Valley Administrative Assistant - Sends your application to the Valley Assistant Principal for review.
5. Valley Assistant Principal - Review, approve, or deny the request.
6. Valley Administrative Assistant - An email is sent from PowerSchool Messenger stating the application has been completed, either "Approved" or Denied."