What is Extended School Year?

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PDF Version: What is Extended School Year?

PDF Version: Full Guide of all 30+ Flyers (Compiled as a Booklet)

When you and the rest of the IEP (Individualized Education Program) team write your child’s IEP, you can talk about the option of Extended School Year (ESY). ESY means your child will keep receiving special education services during the summer. It is not the same as summer school and may or may not be along with with general education summer school.

ESY is offered so that students can keep making progress while school is out for the summer. Not all students with IEPs need extended school year services. You and the IEP team will decide if your child should have ESY based on their needs. Students in gifted education do not qualify for ESY.

When would ESY be a good idea for my child?

• You and the rest of the IEP team think your child might regress during the summer,
• Your child needs extra help with skills like dressing or eating, or
• Your child needs help with certain behavior

Teachers will have documentation that will help the IEP team make a decision. You can also provide information that will help.

Is ESY offered during the school year?

Yes. However, like ESY in the summer, it is not available to everyone with an IEP. You and the rest of the IEP team will use the same information mentioned above to decide if your child should have ESY during the school year. This would mean longer hours on school days. This increased time can help your child with their needs.

Sources & Additional Resources:

Kansas Special Education Process Handbook, Chapter 5. Kansas State Department of Education.

Services beyond the school year for students with IEPs. Center for Parent Information & Resources.

Disclaimer: This fact sheet is not intended to provide specific legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney. Only an attorney can give you specific legal advice based on your particular situation. We try to update our materials regularly, but the law can change frequently. This publication is based on the law at the time that it was written. Future changes in the law could make information in this fact sheet inaccurate.