Extended School Year services provide special education and related services beyond the regular school year for students whose IEP teams determine they need year-round support to maintain skills. ESY is not summer school — it is an individualized entitlement under IDEA for children who would experience significant regression (loss of skills) during breaks that cannot be recouped in a reasonable time. ESY services are specified in the IEP and might include direct instruction, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or behavioral support during summer months. The IEP team makes ESY decisions based on data about the child's regression and recoupment patterns, not based on disability category alone. Schools must provide ESY at no cost to families.
ESY prevents summer regression in critical skills. Families using waiver services for after-school support should also pursue ESY to maximize year-round coverage at no additional cost.