What is Extended School Year (ESY) and How Can It Help My Child?

What's happening

When the school year ends, most students have a break from their academic routine. However, for some students receiving special education services, this break can lead to significant regression in skills. To address this, Extended School Year (ESY) services may be offered. ESY provides additional instructional time during school breaks, aiming to maintain your child's skills and prevent regression. It's not a summer school but rather an individualized extension of your child's current educational supports.

Why it happens

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) acknowledges that some students with disabilities may experience more substantial regression over long breaks and take longer to recoup lost skills. As a result, schools are generally expected to consider ESY services as part of a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) if it is deemed necessary for providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The determination for ESY services is based on data such as regression analysis, recoupment time, and the nature of the disability.

What parents should know

• ESY services are not automatically provided to every student in special education; eligibility is determined by the IEP team.
• The decision for ESY services should be based on data showing significant regression over breaks and difficulties in skill recoupment.
• ESY differs from general summer school as it's tailored to IEP goals and isn't intended for new skill acquisition.
• Schools are generally expected to discuss ESY services with parents during annual IEP meetings.
• This is educational information, not legal advice.

What you can do next

1. Review your child's IEP to understand what data is considered for ESY eligibility.
2. Request an IEP meeting to discuss ESY eligibility and ensure all relevant data is included.
3. Document any regression your child experiences after breaks and share this with the IEP team.
4. Work with the IEP team to set specific ESY goals that align with maintaining progress on current skills.
5. Follow up in writing to confirm the IEP team's decisions regarding ESY and any agreed-upon services.

In summary

You're not alone in navigating the complexities of special education services like ESY. Understanding and advocating for your child's needs is crucial. The first step is ensuring their IEP accurately reflects all relevant data and considerations regarding ESY. If you want to ensure your child's IEP aligns well with their needs, the free IEP Readiness tool provides insights in just a few minutes.