Extended School Year (ESY)

It is important to consider whether or not a student will need ESY services when writing a new or annual IEP. While it is a bit more difficult to determine the need for ESY if you are writing the IEP in the fall of a new school year but it should still be discussed by the IEP team. Not every student with an IEP automatically qualifies for ESY services. The team needs to base their decision on regression and recovery time. For some categories of disabilities it is more obvious that without ESY services a student would probably regress. For other students careful documentation is needed.

On the IEP form is a section entitled Participation in Extended School Term. It asks the IEP team to consider three questions:

1)	Is it likely that significant regression will occur that will affect the maintenance of skills/behaviors if ESY services are not provided?
2)	Will the anticipated recovery time of those skills/behaviors to their previous achievement level exceed 45 school days if ESY services are not provided?
3)	Will the interruption of related services adversely affect the student's ongoing ability to benefit from special education?

Documentation is so important to be able to answer these questions. Look at the students progress report done at the end of the last school year or done prior to Christmas break or Spring Break. Compare that to the skill level the student is currently able to demonstrate. Document if there was regression. Document how long it took to reattain that previous level of achievement. Document whether the student repeatedly regresses when there is an interruption in the school routine.

If the team determines that the student requires ESY services, then it needs to be recorded in several places on the IEP.

On the Special Education and Related Services page make a statement such as:”The IEP team agrees that this student needs ESY services because of documented ______________. The exact location, dates and times for ESY will be determined at a later time. “

2.	On the Participation in Extended School Term page, mark which of the 3 questions can be answered with “Yes” and list the documentation.
3.	On the Special Considerations page, mark question 8 “Yes” if the team agrees that the student needs ESY services to continue to benefit from special education services.
4.	On the Anticipated Services page enter tentative information regarding dates and times. In the past, elementary ESY has been 5 weeks, 4 days per week, 210 minutes per day. The service code is “SE” and the Setting code is “S”. For the time being, you could enter your name as the service provider and your school as the location. Be sure to stress to the parent that specific information about the location of ESY services, exact dates and provider will be determined later and the parent will be notified.

If you are unable to determine at the time of the annual IEP whether a student needs ESY services, it can be added later through another IEP meeting or an Amendment IEP. ESY services will not be provided unless the IEP text reflects the need for these services and it is accurately documented within the IEP. Not all students receiving special education services meet the criteria for ESY services and just because a teacher makes a referral for ESY does not guarantee that service. It must be an IEP team decision and it must be documented correctly within the IEP.