EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR GUIDELINES

Pursuant to Section 300.309 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, extended school year services (ESY) shall be included in the IEP and provided to the pupil if the IEP team determines, on an individual bases, the services are necessary for the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

The need for Extended School Year (“ESY”) programming must be considered and documented annually on the IEP for every student receiving special education services.  The need for ESY programming may be addressed at any IEP meeting.  The IEP meeting addressing ESY should take place a reasonable time prior to the commencement of the extended break.

Determination of ESY Eligibility and Programming

ESY programming must be provided to eligible students at no additional cost to parents.  The IEP team shall determine the need for ESY eligibility and programming considering the following factors:

• Regression and Recoupment: Will your child experience extensive regression without additional services during the summer, and will they have challenges recouping lost skills approximately 4-6 weeks after the start of the school year? All students will experience regression during the summer. The problem exists when a child will experience serious regression without the ability to recoup the loss. 
• Additional eligibility criteria for ESY include:
  • The degree of progress toward IEP goals and objectives
  • Emerging skills/breakthrough opportunities 
  • Interfering Behavior (e.g. Does the child’s behavior interfere with his or her ability to benefit from special education?)
  • Nature and/or severity of disability
  • Special circumstances that interfere with child’s ability to benefit from special education