Washoe Country School District
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Extended School Year (ESY)
What is ESY?
ESY is defined as services in special education and related services that are provided beyond the normal school year in accordance with an IEP, and at no cost to the parents of the child. When considering a student's need for extended school year services, IEP teams review those aspects of the child's skills that are at risk for regression during the school breaks such that they would require an unreasonable amount of time to recoup upon return to the educational setting. IEP teams should collect data regarding those skills that are at risk in order to have information about the length of time needed to re-teach the skills. ESY services would address only those skills thathave been identified as "at risk" for regression and unreasonable recoupment. The IEP team would not be required to implement the entire IEP but only those skill areas and goals identified in need of ESY attention. ESY is intended to provide an opportunity for students to "maintain" skills and does not imply an obligation to make new growth or progress toward IEP goals.
Who qualifies for ESY?
The IEP team must consider the following criteria before referring a child for ESY:
- The severity of the disabling condition
- The areas of learning crucial to attaining the goal of self-sufficiency
- The nature of the student's disability
- The extent of regression caused by interruption in educational programming
- The rate of recoupment following interruption in educational programming
- The ability of the student's parents to provide the educational structure at home
- The availability of alternative resources
- The ability of the student to interact with nondisabled peers
- The areas of the student's curriculum which need continuous attention
- The student's vocational needs
- Whether the requested service is extraordinary to the student's condition as opposed to an integral part of a program for those with the student's condition
How do I refer a child for ESY?
The decision to place a child in ESY is made before the end of the school year. The ESY checklist is located on CSI, SSS-F102. If the checklist indicates that the student is a candidate for ESY, the placement needs to be discussed by the IEP team and included in the annual IEP. If the child has already had their annual IEP, a revision should be held to include ESY. The SES 14 form is sent home to the parents indicating that ESY placement will be discussed and revision to the IEP may be necessary. In the IEP paperwork, the PLOP page should indicate why ESY services are necessary with documentation of regression/recoupment, critical skills, and/or critical learning stage. The Goals and Objectives page need to have the ESY box marked to indicate which goals will be worked on. Page 7 should address specially designed instruction and accommodations that will be in place during ESY. The related service providers need to sign the IEP if the child requires services for the related service, and the ESY box should be checked on the top of page 9 of the IEP. Once complete, the IEP along with the ESY Progress Report, Case Manager Guidelines for Determining ESY services checklist, and the behavior plan/heath plan (if applicable) is sent to your PC at Student Support Services, Edison Way.
What is the difference between ESY services and summer school?
Summer school programs are optional and voluntary programs that provide enrichment, remedial, and reinforcement activities. ESY services are those special education and related services that are determined by the student's IEP committee to be necessary to provide the student with FAPE.
What is "regression/recoupment"?
Regression is described as the lack of maintenance of a skill, or loss of skills, over the summer or other breaks. Regression typically has to do with a student losing the use of a skill that had been acquired.
Recoupment is the time necessary to get back the skill(s) lost. If an excessive amount of time is necessary in order for a student to reacquire the lost skill(s), then recoupment becomes a consideration for ESY services.
For questions regarding content on this page, please email the Mentor and Induction Program at afannin@washoeschools.net.
