Extended school year helps maintain skills, says Flint Journal advice columnist Kori Carson Dean

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on April 28, 2008 at 11:27 AM, updated April 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Dear Kori: Recently, the parent of one of my students shared her child's individual education plan with me. I came across the term "extended school year." Could you please explain what is meant by extended school year? I have asked several of my colleagues, but no one can give me a clear answer.

-- Curious Teacher

Flint Journal columnist Kori Carson Dean | Read more of her columns.
Dear Curious Teacher: The term is a special education concept.

Extended school year, or ESY, refers to special education or related services provided beyond the normal school year for the purpose of providing a free appropriate public education to a student with a disability.

The purpose of enrichment programs, summer school programs or compensatory education programs differs from that of extended school year services in that they are offered to all students, focus on teaching new skills or are simply an extension of the regular school year.

The purpose of extended school year services is to maintain learned skills, not to develop new ones.

Extended school year services are offered at no cost to parents and will vary in type, location and length of time, depending on the needs of the student.

The need for extended school year services must be considered for every student at his or her individualized education program team meeting. Extended school year services must be provided if the team determines that they're needed.

There are three main factors the team needs to consider to determine eligibility for extended school year:

• Regression and recoupment: The student will substantially regress in critical skills as a result of an interruption in instruction and likely will require significant time to recoup the lost skills.

• Nature and/or severity of disability: If the student requires more consistent and highly structured programming techniques due to the severity of the disability, the student may suffer significant loss of skills or behaviors when the school program is interrupted.

• Critical stages and areas of learning: The student's degree of progress in any of the critical life skills will be jeopardized by an interruption in instruction.

Because each student has his or her own individual educational needs, extended school year services address different goals for different students.

Not all students with disabilities are required to have extended school year services, but all are eligible for consideration of them.
