If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), you may have heard about Extended School Year (ESY) services. But what exactly is ESY, and is it something your child should attend? Many parents are unsure whether ESY is necessary, what services should look like, and who will be teaching their child during the program.
What Is ESY?
According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education services provided beyond the regular school year for eligible students with disabilities. Unlike summer school, which is open to all students who need academic help, ESY is specifically designed to prevent regression of critical skills over long breaks. Not every child with an IEP is eligible for ESY. It is also optional; students are not required to attend ESY.
According to 34 C.F.R. § 300.106, ESY services must:
- Be individualized to each child’s needs
- Be free of charge to parents
- Be provided if the IEP team determines it is necessary to receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
What ESY Isn’t…
- Required. It is optional. Parents can refuse assignment to ESY for any reason.
- Meant for new learning. ESY is simply focused on helping your child maintain their current skills.
- Summer camp. ESY targets specific needs and isn’t for exposure to new experiences.
How Does My Child Qualify for ESY?
Factors That Determine ESY Eligibility
According to the U.S. Department of Education, IEP teams consider several factors when deciding if a child qualifies for ESY:
- Regression & Recoupment
- Does your child lose significant skills over school breaks?
- Does it take an unusually long time for them to relearn these skills?
- Severity of Disability
- Students with more significant disabilities (such as autism, intellectual disabilities, or multiple disabilities) are more likely to require ESY to maintain progress.
- Critical Skills
- Would losing these skills seriously impact your child’s ability to function?
- Emerging Skills
- Is your child on the verge of learning a critical skill that could be lost without continued instruction?
- Interfering Behaviors
- Does your child have behaviors that could worsen without consistent intervention?
- Educational History
- Has your child struggled significantly after previous school breaks?
If your child meets one or more of these criteria, they may qualify for ESY services. If the school denies eligibility, call an IEP meeting to discuss your concerns. Having evidence of a regression of skills during other extended breaks will strengthen your argument for the necessity of direct instruction during the summer.
Why Should My Child Attend ESY?
If your child struggles with losing skills over breaks or needs extra support to maintain progress, ESY may be a crucial part of their education plan. Possible benefits include:
- Preventing Regression – Children with disabilities may lose skills over long breaks, and ESY helps maintain their progress.
- Providing Consistency – Many children with disabilities thrive on routine, and ESY keeps their learning structured.
- Improving Independence – ESY helps reinforce skills that contribute to greater independence in school and daily life.
- Enhancing Social Skills – For children with social or communication challenges, ESY provides ongoing opportunities to interact with peers.
What Should Special Education Services Look Like During ESY?
Many parents wonder what services will look like during ESY and how they compare to the regular school year. According to IDEA, ESY services should be based on your child’s IEP and tailored to their specific needs.
ESY Services Should Include:
Individualized Instruction
- ESY is not a one-size-fits-all program. Services should match the child’s specific IEP goals, not just provide general academic review.
Related Services (if needed)
- If your child receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, or behavioral therapy during the school year, these services should continue during ESY if they are critical for maintaining skills.
Smaller Class Sizes
- ESY often has fewer students per teacher, providing more individualized support.
Structured Learning Environment
- Lessons should follow consistent routines to help children feel comfortable and stay engaged.
Data Collection & Progress Monitoring
- Schools should track whether ESY services are helping your child maintain their skills. If your child isn’t making progress, adjustments should be made. There should be a correlation between ESY instruction and the goals in your child’s IEP.
Who Instructs My Child During ESY?
During ESY, your child’s instructors may be:
- Special Education Teachers – Certified teachers with experience in adapting instruction for students with disabilities.
- Therapists – If your child receives speech therapy, OT, or PT during the school year, therapists may continue working with them during ESY.
- Paraprofessionals – Some children receive one-on-one support from aides during the regular school year, and this support may continue in ESY.
- Peer Groups – Some ESY programs include structured social interaction with neurotypical peers to help develop communication and social skills.
Questions to Ask About ESY Location and Staffing:
- Will my child receive ESY services at their home school?
- Does the school system provide transportation to ESY?
- Will my child’s ESY teacher be trained in special education?
- Will my child receive the same level of support (e.g., a one-on-one aide) as they do during the school year?
- How will staff communicate progress to parents?
- Does my child need to attend the entire {half} day or all four weeks?
What are the reasons for refusing ESY services?
A parent can refuse ESY services even if their child meets eligibility requirements if they don’t want their child to attend, or if it simply doesn’t work with your summer schedule. Here are some things to consider:
- ESY only lasts 4 weeks, and in most cases is a half day or even less. Is it worth the preparation and transportation?
- ESY is intended to be individualized instruction, but that is often not the case. More likely, your child will be in a group setting.
- Certain reading interventions aren’t offered during ESY (without parents strongly advocating for it).
- ESY may not be offered at your child’s home school. If anxiety is an issue, you may want to consider how your child will do with new people in an unfamiliar setting. Is it worth the stress to them and you?
- Your child requires more intensive, focused intervention. You may want to opt for 1:1 services with a private provider. If your child becomes ready to progress, an outside therapist can guide your child toward learning new skills.
- You and your child need a break. Therapy and school burn-out are real. Prioritizing your child’s overall well-being over summer instruction is worth considering.
Extended School Year (ESY) services are valuable for some children with disabilities to maintain progress and prevent regression over long breaks. However, not all children with IEPs qualify automatically, so parents must be informed and ready to advocate if needed. If ESY is the right fit for your family, and you’re struggling to get ESY services for your child, a special education attorney can help you navigate the process and advocate for your child’s right to a continuity of services.
This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
If you need advice from an education lawyer or special education advocate, you can schedule a call HERE.