Off-Campus Physical Education

Please read through the important guidelines below, then scroll to the bottom of this page to access the Off-Campus Physical Education (OCPE) application form. Parents must complete the online student form which will be sent to the District OCPE Coordinator. The District OCPE Coordinator will work with the approved facility for necessary documentation, then submit the application for approval to LCISD Director of Administrative and Community Services, Edna Parr. When the application is approved, the parent and counselor will be notified via email. All applications must be completed online. No paper copies will be accepted. The application deadline is two weeks before the first day of instruction for the 2024-2025 school year.
Deadlines will be strictly enforced.

Please contact Edna Parr at eparr@lcisd.net with questions.

Program Purpose and Description
Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District’s Off-Campus Physical Education (OCPE) program offers students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn physical education credits by participating in appropriate privately or commercially sponsored programs that meet district and state requirements. The OCPE program offers schedule flexibility to students who wish to participate in dual credit and/or Career and Technology classes, as well as accommodating those students who are making a serious attempt to develop higher-level abilities and skills in specific activities that surpass what the district can offer through the general physical education curriculum.

The OCPE program is a collaborative arrangement between LCISD and a district approved off-campus sponsored activity and agency provider. Activities are defined as those in which a student works with either a single instructor/coach or with a team instructor/coach.  All requirements must be met before the activity and agency provider may be considered for district approval.  No student scheduling will occur without approval to the program by Edna Parr.

Criteria
Approved OCPE programs will be classified into two categories:

  • Category 1:  Programs which are of Olympic/national level participation and/or competition which include a minimum of fifteen (15) hours per week of highly intensive, professionally supervised training. The training facilities, instructors, and activities involved at this level must be certified by the superintendent to be of exceptional quality. Students will only be considered Category 1 with a meet score of Level 6 or above for gymnastics (recent meet score sheet required) and apprentice company for ballet students (letter from dance instructor certifying apprentice company level).  Students in grades 9-12 qualifying and participating at this level may be dismissed from school for one black day or one red day class period, physical education course only. Participating students will be required to follow this schedule for the entire year.  Middle school students (grades 7-8) may be dismissed from school for one physical education class period per day.  The physical education class must be the last period of the day for middle school students.

  • Category 2:  Programs which are privately or commercially sponsored physical activities not of Olympic/national level participation and/or competition which include a minimum of five (5) hours per week. The training facilities, instructors, and activities involved at this level will be certified by the Superintendent to be of high quality. Students qualifying and participating at this level MAY NOT be dismissed from any part of the regular school day.

General Requirements

The following basic requirements established by the Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District and the Texas Education Agency must be met and maintained in order for a program to qualify.

Student/Parent Responsibilities:

  1. All forms from parents and OCPE agency must be completed and submitted online two (2) weeks prior to the first day of school for the year. No paper copies will be accepted.  Deadlines will be strictly enforced.

  2. Students may participate with one OCPE agency to meet the required hours. Activities under multiple OCPE agencies cannot be combined to meet hour requirements.  Summer activity hours will not be counted.

  3. Students employed as instructors at an OCPE agency under which they are receiving credit may not use instruction time to meet OCPE hour requirements.

  4. A student is expected to attend the OCPE program in accordance with the Lubbock-Cooper ISD and campus attendance policy. If a student develops an injury which limits or prevents the student’s participation in the OCPE program, the student is still expected to attend the program, unless the student provides a note of excuse from a licensed physician. LCISD and the OCPE agency must be notified of any injury or illness which will prevent the student’s participation for any period of time in excess of five hours/one week.

  5. Absences recorded for OCPE students competing during the school day will be as follows:

Category 1:  To qualify for an S (school activity) day, the student must provide the following documentation to the campus.

  • Documentation of participation in the activity (signed score sheet, pictures, signed schedule, etc.)  The documents may either be signed by the official judge or the participating gym representative.

  • Category 1 students, with the proper documentation indicating proof of participation and principal permission, will be excused from school for an S day or school activity day.

Category 2:  To qualify for an excused absence taken from the students’ personal days, the following documentation must be provided to the campus.

  • Documentation of participation in the activity (signed score sheet, pictures, signed schedule, etc.)  The documents may either be signed by the official judge or the participating gym representative.

  • Category 2 students, with the proper documentation indicating proof of participation and principal permission, may use their allotted days as an excused absence.

  1. If a student withdraws from the OCPE agency, parent/guardian must notify the school counselor immediately and enroll the student in a campus physical education class.  Failure to do so may result in loss of credit. If a student fails to meet the requirements of the OCPE program, he/she may lose the privilege for future participation in the program.

  2. Students participating in the OCPE program will receive a grade of P (pass) or F (fail).  No letter or numerical grades will be given in the OCPE program.  Grades and attendance will be sent to the campus counselor by the participating facility.  Category 1 students will receive grades and attendance each nine weeks. The reporting dates are listed on the Grade and Attendance Form.    Category 2 students will receive grades and attendance once per semester. The Grade and Attendance Form is to be used when submitting grades and attendance, and may be emailed to the counselor.

  3. Students may not participate in an OCPE program if the activity or competitive sport is offered as an elective at LCISD. Exception: a student tries out for a team sport and does not make the team. Possible UIL eligibility implications resulting from OCPE participation are the sole responsibility of the student and/or parent. To determine eligibility status implications due to OCPE participation, parents/students may contact University Interscholastic League at 512.471.5883.

  4. Students may not change agencies during the school year. (Exception: If an agency closes, LCISD will permit student to transfer to another LCISD approved agency).

  5. Parent/guardian is responsible for student’s transportation to and from the OCPE facility.

  6. Parent/guardian is responsible for all tuition/fees incurred by participation in OCPE programs.

  7. Parents should be aware that Lubbock-Cooper ISD is not responsible for performing or maintaining background checks on the employees or volunteers of any OCPE agency.

Information for Parents
Requirements and Required Documentation for Participating Facilities (will be obtained from the facility by the District OCPE Coordinator AFTER the student application is submitted.)

  • Criteria insuring instructors are “appropriately” or “exceptionally’ trained

  • Instructor certification for instruction, safety, and criminal background check for those instructing LCISD students (letter of assurance regarding successful passage of background check)

  • Agency certification as provider of Category 1 instruction (“exceptional” quality and state, national, or Olympic competition) and/or Category 2 instruction (“high” quality)  Latest meet score sheet for gymnasts required with level 6 or above.

  • Agency athletic, training and performance goals

  • Outline of syllabus describing typical training session or year-round program

  • Agency Certificate of Insurance (Minimum coverage of $1,000,000.00)

OCPE Form