EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (ESY)
The Extended School Year or ESY is available for eligible students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The student’s IEP team makes this determination and considers the following factors: rate of progress, regression and recoupment of skills over breaks and severity of disability. The student must qualify for each service received as part of ESY. Furthermore, a student may only receive related services as part of ESY if they are necessary for a student to benefit from special education services received during ESY. Per IDEA, ESY is provided for the maintenance of acquired skills and knowledge, not the acquisition or continued development of new skills.
ISBE ESY FAQ March 2021