Extended School Year Services
As the spring season comes to a head, it is time to start thinking about summer services for students with disabilities. Designed to assist in the maintenance of skills your child learns during the school year, extended school year services, or “ESY,” is available under the IDEA Regulations (34 CFR § 300.106) and offered pursuant to your child’s IEP.
In addition to regression and recoupment (i.e. is the child likely to lose critical skills or fail to recover these skills within in a reasonable time), whether the IEP team will determine that ESY is appropriate for your child will depend upon a number of factors, including but not limited to your child’s behavioral and physical impairments; his or her rate of progress; and the availability of resources. The IEP team will also consider your ability, as Parents, to provide the structure your child needs at home. It is important to keep in mind that ESY cannot be limited to particular disabilities or types of services.
While the school district will cover the cost of ESY, it is important to keep in mind that not all students will qualify for the service. ESY is not “summer school.” It is a service offered to students with disabilities who, in the past, have shown regression during vacations or other extended breaks from the school year. As parents, note when you see a regression in skills, and when your child’s teachers or providers indicate to you that they see regression. For example, it is necessary for your child to re-learn certain skills after the winter or spring breaks? It is important to collect and compile information and documentation to support this regression so that the IEP team may consider ESY for your son or daughter.
