Most parents look forward to taking time off from work in the summer to spend quality time with their kids.
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ESY
Most parents look forward to taking time off from work in the summer to spend quality time with their kids.
It offers them a chance to unwind and rest after a long year of school drop-offs, after-school clubs, and sports games. But for others, the summer break can be an anxious time, not just because it means their usual routine goes out the window.
For parents of children with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the long summer break can cause a lot of worries. You may be concerned that your child will lose the skills they have worked so hard to develop over the year and that, by the time they go back, they may be behind and playing catch up again, which is both unfair and frustrating for your child and those involved in their education.
That’s why we want to discuss what Extended School Year (ESY) services are. Read on to learn more about ESY services, including how to find out if your child is eligible and how you can get them the assistance and care they need.
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What is ESY?
Extended School Year services refer to individualized instructional programs for students with disabilities that are provided beyond the regular school year. They are usually designed as a part of a child’s IEP and are cost-free under FAPE. While they usually run during summer vacation, they shouldn’t be mistaken for summer school.
ESY is not simply an extension of the child’s usual school curriculum and doesn’t cover the same work. Instead, the services are individualized to each child’s needs to help them maintain their skills and not lose the progress they have made. These services vary depending on the child and IEP in question. Some might involve one-to-one tutoring, behavioral support, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. ESY will look different for every child and is decided by their IEP team.
What are the benefits of ESY services?
Many benefits come with offering ESY services to children who need them, including:
- They help students to stay on target – if your child has an IEP, extended time off from education and disruption to their daily routine could potentially cause regression in their learning, including the loss of key skills. In turn, this will likely require a longer recoupment period (the time needed to relearn these skills). This could undo the hard work your child and their educator have put into their learning, making it difficult for them to pick up where they left off when they return to school. This longer turnaround could slow their overall development and progress and stunt any new learning. ESY prevents this from happening by helping students maintain the skills they learned in the previous school year throughout the summer.
- They provide a sense of normality – Children with learning difficulties or disabilities tend to benefit from a consistent routine, so utilizing ESY during the summer can help lower the anxiety and uncertainty they may feel when they’re not going to school every day. Moreover, some children with IEPs may also find it hard to get back into a routine if they have an extended period away from school during the summer, so ensuring they attend some ESY services during the break can help ease the transition into a new school year. While ESY services won’t necessarily provide the child with the same routine they usually have, it will be similar.
- They provide social interaction – Children with disabilities can find it harder to socialize with their peers, but ESY ensures they maintain interaction with people outside their family structure.
- It’s a personalized system – ESY services are completely personalized, so you can trust that they will cater directly to your child’s needs. Whether you’re concerned about losing information, behavioral backsliding, or missed opportunities, there will be a suitable ESY service for your child.
Who is eligible?
If you are wondering if your child is eligible for ESY services, unfortunately, it’s not as simple as all students with IEPs getting one. ESY isn’t guaranteed for all students with IEPs, as not every student needs it. According to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, each state or school district can set eligibility rules. This means the criteria do vary across the country, although, for the most part, the requirements are similar.
What does an IEP team consider when distributing ESY services?
If your child is eligible, an IEP team will consider numerous things to decide which ESY services are needed and relevant. Below are the main things they will take into account:
- Will your child lose critical skills without continued teaching and support?
- Will it take a long time for your child to regain these skills? Should they lose them? Will it take them longer to regain these skills than students without learning difficulties?
- If there is evidence that your child has a history of regression, the IEP team will consider this. If not, there are some other questions they will consider:
- Has your child had difficulty retaining skills over short breaks?
- Does your child have challenges with working memory?
- Is your child making steady progress towards a goal that a break may interfere with?
How can kids get help during the summer?
Although not all children will be eligible, every IEP team should discuss the option of ESY. If you’re worried and believe your child may benefit from this service, bring it up at your child’s next meeting so the team can consider their eligibility.
It’s also important to remember that ESY isn’t the only way to keep kids on track. You can try many activities at home or ask your IEP team for suggestions on how to keep them focused on their goals.
