The APAC Legislative Committee will be petitioning the Senate HELP Committee in the fall of 2011 requesting "highly qualified APE teacher" be included in IDEA section 300.26 when specially designed physical education is required.  IDEA is slated for re-authorization in 2012.   Senator Harkin's chief education staffer has reviewed the letter to be submitted to the HELP committee, his response was "the message is clear, admirable, and worthy of review".    Support for this advocacy project will be garnered through circulation of the letter for sign on by affiliated professional associations. Contact Pamela Skogstad with questions: akskogstad@aol.com
  

The Anchorage School District Adapted Physical Education Department implemented a new APE Collaborative Model during the 2009-2010 school year, continuing through 2012. The new model focused on servicing students with disabilities in the K-6 grade levels included in the general physical education setting.  Approximately 45 elementary schools, 50 elementary physical education teachers, and three Adapted Physical Education teachers worked collaboratively throughout the school year.  The model included extensive training for P.E. teachers through a two credit course for teaching staff, one credit course for teaching assistants, and a one day workshop for teaching assistants (paraprofessionals).  Dr. Lauren Lieberman gave a workshop in August of 2010, the audience was elementary physical educators with the focus the role of the paraeducator.  The 45 physical education teachers taking the two credit course created a resource booklet, "Teaming for Success".  The booklet is a rich resource with 45 pages of adaptations including pictures of students working with adapted equipment.