Extended School Year Services: What Families Need to Know as Demand Grows
Extended School Year services are designed to prevent skill regression and preserve progress, but eligibility is individualized and often misunderstood by families.
As the school year comes to a close, many families are looking forward to summer vacation. For some students with disabilities, however, a long break from structured instruction can result in the loss of hard-earned skills. Extended School Year, commonly known as ESY, was created to address that concern by providing specialized education and related services beyond the traditional school calendar.
ESY services are designed to help eligible students maintain progress toward their Individualized Education Program goals and prevent significant regression during extended breaks. While many parents have heard of ESY, confusion remains about who qualifies, how eligibility is determined and what families can do to support progress throughout the year.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires school…
