Extended School Year (ESY) Overview

Extended School Year (ESY) “means special education and/or related services provided beyond the normal school year or normal school hours for the purpose of providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to a student with a disability as required by the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)” [1]. The purpose of ESY is to prevent a regression in learning and maintain progress in IEP goals from the period a student may be out of school. The best example of ESY is summer break, but it can also be for extended breaks within the school year [1]. ESY serves to support education, behavior, and/or additional skills that may be lost over prolonged periods of time for a student. ESY is federal law under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) as detailed below [2]: 

300.106 Extended school year services.

(a) General.

(1) Each public agency must ensure that extended school year services are available as necessary to provide FAPE, consistent with paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(2) Extended school year services must be provided only if a child’s IEP Team determines, on an individual basis, in accordance with §§300.320 through 300.324, that the services are necessary for the provision of FAPE to the child.

(3) In implementing the requirements of this section, a public agency may not—

(i) Limit extended school year services to particular categories of disability; or

(ii) Unilaterally limit the type, amount, or duration of those services.

(b) Definition. As used in this section, the term extended school year services means special education and related services that—

(1) Are provided to a child with a disability—

(i) Beyond the normal school year of the public agency;

(ii) In accordance with the child’s IEP; and

(iii) At no cost to the parents of the child; and

(2) Meet the standards of the SEA.

Students aged 3-21 with an IEP must be considered for ESY on at least an annual basis, but are not required to attend ESY [3,4]. However, the school district must present the option to the parent if the data demonstrates the need [5]. 

It’s important for parents to know that your child must be considered for ESY under IDEA, but for your state, check your state requirements regarding ESY. Mention ESY to your IEP team if it hasn’t already been discussed and ensure that it continues to be considered on an annual basis. If the current IEP team does not agree that the consideration of ESY is necessary for your child, there are ways to dispute an IEP.

Sources

[1] Azed, www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2020/05/ESY%20FINAL.pdf?id=5ebc7f6b03e2b31494554796. Accessed 29 May 2025. 

[2] “Sec. 300.106 Extended School Year Services.” Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 3 May 2017, sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/b/300.106. 

[3] Educational Services / Extended School Year (ESY), Cartwright School District #83, www.csd83.org/Page/1347. Accessed 29 May 2025. 

[4] “Extended School Year (ESY) - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc..” COPAA, www.copaa.org/page/extended-school-year. Accessed 29 May 2025. 

[5] Reed-Harris, Michelle. “Extended School Year.” PASEN, 16 July 2023, pasen.org/extended-school-year/.