Some students with disabilities need special education services beyond the normal school year. These services are called extended school year (ESY) services and can be provided during any break in the normal school year. Not every student who receives special education gets ESY, but your child’s IEP team should discuss it with you each year.

Your child is eligible for ESY if they:

• Need to attain and maintain self-sufficiency skills (things like toileting, eating, and dressing)
• Are likely to lose ground on their progress towards IEP goals
• Need ESY to make sure they are receiving free and appropriate public education

Some questions you may want to ask about ESY are:

• When will the IEP team determine my child’s eligibility?
• What data will be used to make this determination?
• If my child needs ESY services, what are the options?

Many people think ESY means summer school. But summer school is open to all students, and ESY is only an option for students who have an IEP. ESY may also include services before or after school or during other breaks in the school year. Talk with your child’s IEP team about appropriate options to meet your child’s needs.