Extended School Year (ESY)
Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education and related services that are provided to students with disabilities beyond the 180-day school year. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law, states that local educational agencies (LEAs) must provide ESY services if a student needs these services to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). In some cases, interruptions in the school schedule, such as summer break, may result in some students with disabilities regressing to lower skill levels once school is back in session, taking a much longer time to regain those skills than their peers without disabilities. ESY services are provided during breaks in the educational schedule to prevent this loss.
Every student who is eligible for special education has an IEP that describes the programs and services that the student needs. One of the issues discussed and decided upon at the IEP team meeting is whether or not the student requires ESY services as part of the student's special education program. ESY must be considered each year for every student with a disability.
The IEP team makes its decision about providing ESY services by examining data that have been collected, including before and after scheduled breaks in the school year. The team also reviews input provided by teachers, parents, or other members of the IEP team.
The District offers ESY programs and services to meet the needs of eligible students. Specific services provided are based on a careful review of data by the IEP team, which takes into consideration the individual needs of a student and eligibility for ESY. Not all students with IEPs qualify for ESY. Questions about ESY can be directed to your child's special education case manager.