Physical Education & Credit Flexibility

Ohio’s Credit Flexibility Plan

Ohio Law ORC 3313.603 (J) (2) or ORC 3314.03 (A) (11) (f)
 
Ohio’s plan for credit flexibility is designed to broaden the scope of curricular options available to students, increase the depth of study possible for a particular subject, and allow tailoring of learning time and conditions. These are ways in which aspects of learning can be customized around student interests and needs.
 
Students may earn credits by:

  • Completing coursework.
  • Testing out of or demonstrating mastery of course content; or
  • Pursuing one or more educational options (e.g., distance learning, educational travel,  independent study, internships, music, arts, after-school/tutorial programs, community service, or other engagement projects and sports).
 
 Credit flexibility is intended to motivate and increase student learning by allowing:
  • Access to more learning resources, especially real-world experiences
  • Customization around individual student needs; and
  • Use multiple learning measures, especially those where students demonstrate what they know and can do, apply learning, or document performance.

For more information and guidance on credit flexibility please visit the Credit Flexibility webpage under Ohio’s school options.

Physical Education and Credit Flexibility

Physical education teaches students the importance and value of physically active lifestyles. There are a variety of benefits gained through physical education. Personal health, social skills, self-esteem, fitness concepts and techniques, motor skills, and knowledge base can positively impact and develop physically literate individuals. Students can pursue individual interests by using credit flexibility plans while meeting state standards and local curriculum.

Physical Education Teacher’s Responsibilities

Although some of the processes of a credit flexibility plan can involve an instructor outside of the school (i.e. a dance, yoga, karate instructor, etc.), a physical therapist, and in other cases no teacher at all, a licensed 9-12 physical education teacher within the school district still does have some responsibilities in the process of every credit flexibility opportunity. The physical education teacher should review the plan and must ensure that the plan identifies ways of providing evidence to determine that the student demonstrates competency within each benchmark. Furthermore, a physical education teacher must be highly involved in the evidence process, as the law requires the district to assess all students on the success of each of the benchmarks once per grade band using the Ohio Physical Education Evaluations. The teacher will ensure that the evidence provided is sufficient enough to determine the scoring for each student and submit the student’s scores within the school year in which a grade/credit was issued. 

Last Modified: 11/5/2024 4:13:01 PM

Pursuant to ORC 3301.079 (B) (3) and 3313.60, it is the responsibility of Ohio's local boards of education to vet and approve curriculum and educational materials for use in the public schools within their district. The use of any materials posted or linked to on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce website, including materials within Ohio’s Learning Standards or Appendices or any state model curricula or other educational resource material, is entirely up to the discretion of each local board of education.