What is Extended School Year (ESY)?

Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education and/or related services provided beyond the usual school year. ESY is a team decision, not a unilateral decision by the school. Although ESY services are typically held while school is not in session, such as during summer break, it is not the same as summer school. Students receive ESY when an interruption of their regular program may cause regression and a limited recoupment capacity. Decisions about whether a student should receive ESY are made at an IEP team meeting. ESY comes in many forms, but some examples are summer school, individual remediation, mental health counseling, or attendance at a nonpublic school summer program.

For more about ESY, see What Do Parents Need to Do Before the End of the School Year?