ESY - Extended School Year

What is ESY?
 Extended School Year (ESY) is the provision of special education and/or related services beyond the normal school year or normal hours of the school day of the school district or charter school for the purpose of providing a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a student with disabilities.

Who is eligible for ESY?
Generally, a student eligible for special education and related services under IDEA (a student with an IEP) is eligible for ESY if he or she regresses over school breaks and then do not quickly recoup what they have lost or forgotten school resumes.  A student is also eligible if he or she is at the point of learning a critical skill, which is a skill related to the child's needs and goals.

How is ESY determined?
Looking at retrospective data and predictive data. 

• Retrospective data is current data verified by observation, hard data collection and review, written reports of performance, behavior; we like to see objective and verifiable data, not merely subjective data or anecdotal reports).  Retrospective data ought to look at regression and rate of recoupment of regressed skills after services resume. This is what the IEP team refers to as "regression-recoupment measures."

•  Predictive data is often used when there is insufficient retrospective data on critical skills available. Predictive data may include expert opinion, circumstantial considerations and anecdotal reports from teachers, parents, related service personnel, tutors - anyone who works with the student.

When is ESY determined?

If you child has an IEP, the IEP team must meet to determine the need for ESY services.  The determination is typically made at the annual IEP meeting. However, the need for ESY services is probably not know if the annual IEP meeting is during the earlier part of the school year, and the need for ESY really can't be known unless there have been holiday breaks to gather data.  If the need for ESY is not known at the annual IEP meeting, the IEP team ought to set a date it will reconvene to determine ESY needs and services. The date to determine ESY must be no later than 45 calendar days from the end of the school year.  Look at your child's IEP.  Does it provide for ESY?  Are you in agreement with the determination that your child needs or does not need ESY?  If not, request an emergency IEP meeting to discuss ESY, and ask for the data that supports the determination.