Extended Year Services ESY | Lehigh Valley Autism

What is Extended School Year Service?

ESY (Extended School Year) is a service some students with disabilities get during school breaks, like summer. It's not the same as summer school or an extra learning program. ESY helps kids keep the skills in their current IEP—it doesn’t teach new ones. The school must follow state rules and your child’s IEP.

The IEP team need to come together to discuss ESY services, where the services will take place, and how progress will be measured and reported should be included in the student’s IEP. It uses proven teaching methods, not just trying things out. If your child qualifies, transportation is usually included, and the program often runs for half a day.

Don’t Wait Too Long

Schools must decide about ESY by February 28
Parents should get a written notice (NOREP) by March 31
You can still ask for ESY after these dates—but it’s better to ask early.

Who Qualifies for ESY?

Some kids with disabilities may qualify for Extended School Year (ESY) services if they lose important skills during long school breaks, like summer.

Here's what schools look at when deciding:

Regression-Your child loses important skills (academic, social, or behavior) during breaks from school.
Recoupment-Your child has a hard time getting those skills back after returning to school. Some kids, especially older ones, may need more time—but it should still be within reason.
Mastery-If your child is just starting to master a skill or goal, a break may cause them to fall behind or forget it.
Self-Sufficiency-The skill helps your child become more independent and less reliant on others. ESY may be needed to keep progress going.
Repeated Setbacks-If your child struggles every time there’s a long break, like summer, this may be a sign that ESY is needed to keep learning on track.
Severity of Disability-Kids with more severe disabilities—like autism, emotional disorders, or multiple disabilities—may need extra support during breaks to avoid falling behind.

What ESY is not

It's not a summer camp, daycare, or a break for parents. It’s also not just a way to keep kids busy or give them extra learning time. ESY is meant to help students keep important skills during school breaks—not gain new ones.

What doesn't qualify for ESY?

Here is a link the PA state ESY guidelines.
Saying no to the school offering ESY could hurt your case should you go to due process with the school in the future.

How do I know if my child qualifies for ESY?

Has your child regressed?
How do test results, curriculum based assessments and other measures compare during the winter break?
Does the child recover skills or behavior patterns after regression has occurred?
Will the child have difficulty if he/she mastered important skills or behaviors right before the break?
Will the educational break affect self-sufficiency and independence from caregivers that is crucial for the child to meet the IEP goals?
Would the summer break from school result in the student's withdrawal from learning?
Does the child have a severe disability like autism/ intellectual disability, severe emotional disturbance, etc?
Does the child have medical or other agency reports indicating degenerative-type difficulties which have a tendency to be increased during long breaks?

Don’t Wait Too Long

Who Qualifies for ESY?

Regression-Your child loses important skills (academic, social, or behavior) during breaks from school.

Recoupment-Your child has a hard time getting those skills back after returning to school. Some kids, especially older ones, may need more time—but it should still be within reason.

Mastery-If your child is just starting to master a skill or goal, a break may cause them to fall behind or forget it.

Self-Sufficiency-The skill helps your child become more independent and less reliant on others. ESY may be needed to keep progress going.

Repeated Setbacks-If your child struggles every time there’s a long break, like summer, this may be a sign that ESY is needed to keep learning on track.

Severity of Disability-Kids with more severe disabilities—like autism, emotional disorders, or multiple disabilities—may need extra support during breaks to avoid falling behind.

What ESY is not

What doesn't qualify for ESY?

Has your child been denied ESY services and you are concerned about regression of skills?

Click on the following link to review your options.

If parents disagree with the ESY recommendation, the parents will be afforded an automatically expedited due process hearing:

1. Resolution meeting within 7 days of ESY complaint

2. Hearing will be held within 20 days of ESY complaint

3. Decision within 10 days after hearing.

Don’t Wait Too Long

Who Qualifies for ESY?

Regression-Your child loses important skills (academic, social, or behavior) during breaks from school.

Recoupment-Your child has a hard time getting those skills back after returning to school. Some kids, especially older ones, may need more time—but it should still be within reason.

Mastery-If your child is just starting to master a skill or goal, a break may cause them to fall behind or forget it.

Self-Sufficiency-The skill helps your child become more independent and less reliant on others. ESY may be needed to keep progress going.

Repeated Setbacks-If your child struggles every time there’s a long break, like summer, this may be a sign that ESY is needed to keep learning on track.

Severity of Disability-Kids with more severe disabilities—like autism, emotional disorders, or multiple disabilities—may need extra support during breaks to avoid falling behind.

What ESY is not

What doesn't qualify for ESY?

Has your child been denied ESY services and you are concerned about regression of skills?

Click on the following link to review your options.

If parents disagree with the ESY recommendation, the parents will be afforded an automatically expedited due process hearing:

1. Resolution meeting within 7 days of ESY complaint

2. Hearing will be held within 20 days of ESY complaint

3. Decision within 10 days after hearing.

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