Adaptive Phys Ed: 20 IEP Goals to Consider

As a kid, I was an unidentified 2E student. They only identified the gifted part and missed the two big learning disabilities. Oh, and I was in adaptive PE. But I didn’t have an IEP. Weird, I know. But being the only girl in my school in gifted, missing specials once a week so I could go to meaningless “gifted” stuff with 4 other boys….and I’m not gonna lie, they were the “nerds” suffice it to say that primary elementary school was a nightmare for me.

Sure, in regular gym class, I was always picked last for a team. Running races? Last. But adaptive PE wasn’t much better.

If gym class makes your kid anxious for similar reasons, you might want to look into Adaptive Physical Education. Obviously I have mixed emotions for it and I couldn’t tell you which was worse–regular or adaptive PE.

IEP Goals for Adaptive Physical Education

Here are some done for you APE goals, to edit and include in a child’s IEP as appropriate.

1. Balance will improve by standing on one foot for ___ seconds in ___ out of ___ trials.
2. Catching a medium-sized ball with both hands from a distance of ___ feet will occur in ___ out of ___ attempts.
3. Balance Beam Walking will be demonstrated by walking across a balance beam independently in ___ out of ___ sessions.
4. Participation in Group Games will occur for at least ___ consecutive minutes during modified group activities.
5. Wheelchair Maneuvering will be demonstrated safely in the gym setting with ___% accuracy.
6. Core Strength (Sit-Ups) will improve by completing ___ sit-ups in one minute, increasing by ___% over baseline by the end of the year.
7. Following Two-Step Directions related to physical activity will occur in ___ out of ___ opportunities.
8. Jumping Forward with two feet and landing on both feet will be demonstrated for ___ consecutive jumps.
9. Warm-Up Participation will occur during a modeled routine with prompting in ___ out of ___ sessions.
10. Underhand Throwing will be performed with ___% accuracy in ___ out of ___ trials.
11. Turn-Taking in Activities will be demonstrated appropriately during group physical activities in ___ out of ___ opportunities.
12. Yoga Pose Identification and Demonstration of ___ poses will occur with ___% accuracy.
13. Cardiovascular Endurance will increase as measured by participating in sustained walking or wheeling for ___ minutes.
14. Locomotor Movements (e.g., skipping, hopping, galloping) will be performed correctly for ___ movements in ___ out of ___ sessions.
15. Stretching Routine targeting major muscle groups will be performed with ___% independence.
16. Adaptive Equipment Use (e.g., bowling ramp, gait trainer) will be demonstrated appropriately in PE class in ___ out of ___ opportunities.
17. Cooperative Partner Activity engagement will occur for at least ___ minutes.
18. Gym Safety Rule Compliance will be demonstrated with ___% consistency.
19. Initiating Physical Activity Participation will occur with a verbal prompt in ___ out of ___ sessions.
20. Fine Motor Skills in PE Tasks (e.g., dribbling, grasping) will be demonstrated with ___% accuracy.

What IS Adaptive Physical Education (APE)?

Adaptive PE is a specially designed program of physical activity for students who cannot safely or successfully participate in regular PE. Think of it as an IEP for gym class. And no, it’s not just about “letting them sit out.” It’s about access—access to movement, fitness, motor planning, socialization, and success.

APE is federally mandated under IDEA when a student’s disability impacts their ability to participate in general PE. That means if your child has mobility issues, developmental delays, sensory issues, or behavioral challenges that make PE a struggle, they may qualify for APE.

Who Evaluates for Adaptive PE?

Usually, it’s a certified Adapted Physical Education teacher. These unicorns (who often are shared across multiple schools or even districts) assess motor skills, strength, coordination, and how the student functions in PE activities.

That evaluation should be part of the full picture during the IEP process. If your school doesn’t have a certified APE teacher? You can, and should ask for an outside evaluator. (Yes, you can use the PWN process for that.)

PT Evaluation instead of Adaptive PE

Can you do a PT evaluation instead of APE?

Short answer? No. A Physical Therapy (PT) evaluation is not the same as an Adaptive Physical Education (APE) evaluation, and it absolutely should not be used as a substitute.

APE vs. PT: What’s the Difference?

• Adaptive PE is about access to the general education curriculum—specifically PE class. It’s educational. It’s about skill development, participation, motor planning, gross motor coordination, and how your child functions in the school gym setting.
• Physical Therapy is a related service under IDEA. It’s medical in nature. PT is focused on mobility, range of motion, strengthening, posture, and functional access to the school environment—like walking in the hallway, climbing stairs, or carrying a backpack.

They are different professions, with different training, licensure, and scopes of practice.

Warning Sign: If the school says “We’ll just have the PT evaluate for APE…”

That’s a red flag.

Unless your district’s PT also holds a certification in APE (and that’s rare), they’re not qualified to evaluate whether your child can meaningfully participate in general PE. It would be like asking the speech therapist to assess your kid’s math skills.

What To Do Instead

• Ask for an APE evaluation in writing and cite IDEA if needed. IDEA requires that children have access to and participate in general education curriculum, including PE.
• Put it in your PWN (Prior Written Notice) if they refuse.
• If they insist on a PT eval instead, ask for the credentials of the evaluator and the scope of their report. Or better yet, request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense for APE.

So no, a PT eval isn’t a stand-in for APE. It’s like subbing in a fork when you really need a spoon—wrong tool, wrong outcome. The same could be said about OT goals. Yes, I guess throwing and catching a ball, depending on the size of the ball, may be considered a fine motor skill. Still, poor practice to do this.

APE isn’t just about playing; it’s about learning. It’s a vital part of your child’s access to education and health. Don’t let the school blow it off like it’s just “fun time.” It’s skill-building time.

Need more goal ideas, sample accommodations, or letters to request APE evaluations? You know I’ve got a toolkit for that.