ISPE

Independent Study Physical Education (ISPE)

SDUHSD supports and values after-school activities and encourages student participation in extra-curricular areas of interest. However, these outside sports do not take the place of SDUHSD physical education courses following the K-12 California State Standards in Physical Education while offering an introduction to diverse sporting activities in the context of a cooperative environment. Students are encouraged to participate in the SDUHSD on-campus physical education program in middle and high school.

All students must participate in our district physical education program to satisfy the physical education graduation requirement; however, for a small percentage of students, SDUHSD offers Independent Study Physical Education (ISPE) with the following agreed-upon qualifications:

High School applicants must demonstrate they are competing at a pre-Olympic or pre-professional level, as evidenced by a verifiable ranking organization and/or compared to other athletes or peers participating in the same sport or activity.
Middle School applicants must demonstrate they are making progress toward the criteria listed above for High school applicants.

It will be encouraged that all applicants include ranking information from the respective sports governing body as documentation.

An independent study course requires personal accountability and maturity. Students in ISPE will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the ISPE Contract, which includes the completion of ongoing workouts logs and the submission of all required documents as requested. Please understand that due to the independent nature of this program, a large component of a student's grade (pass/fail) is earned based upon the accomplishment of their agreed-upon objectives and communication of this information to the ISPE Coordinator in a timely fashion.

What is independent Study IN Physical Education?

ISPE is a voluntary alternative instructional strategy for providing regular education. Students work independently, according to a written agreement, and under the general supervision of a credentialed teacher. Attendance in IS is based on the time value of the student’s work product, as determined by the student’s supervising teacher. Because ISPE is an alternative instructional strategy, not an alternative curriculum, students follow the same course of study and meet the same academic standards as classroom-based students. IS students must adhere to EC sections 51222, 51225.3, 51241, and 60800, the latter requiring all students in grades five, seven, and nine to be tested in the state’s physical performance test (FITNESSGRAM®). Note: IS is offered at the option of the district, and not all districts offer this alternative instructional strategy. (CA Department of Education, Physical Education Frequently Asked Questions)

RESOURCES

SDUHSD ISPE SPRING 2026 TIMELINE

SDUHSD ISPE SPRING 2026 TIMELINE

SDUHSD ISPE Application Opens	Monday, February 9, 2026 @ 8:00 am
SDUHSD Application Submission	Virtual Application (Preferred) Virtual applications will be submitted via Informed K12. Hard-Copy Applications (As Needed) Hard-copy applications may be dropped off at the San Dieguito Union High School District Office between the hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The San Dieguito Union High School District Office is the only application drop-off location. Please utilize the contact information below for any ISPE application questions or concerns. Individual school sites will not be collecting any ISPE applications/packets.
Parent/Student Q&A Sessions - Virtual	Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Meeting Link Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Meeting Link
SDUHSD ISPE Application Closes	Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 4:00 pm
SDUHSD ISPE Application Review Period	Monday, March 16, 2026 - Friday, March 27, 2026
SDUHSD ISPE Applicant Notification Period	Monday, March 23, 2026* - Friday, April 10, 2026 *Conditional approval communication may begin as soon as Monday, March 23, 2026. Please note that SDUHSD is on Spring Break from Monday, March 30, 2026, to Friday, April 3, 2026.
Questions or Concerns	Email: ispe@sduhsd.net or call (760) 753-6491