| Are you the parent of a child with autism or | | | | Factor 3: Emerging skills/and Breakthrough |
| a learning disability, who believes that your | | | | opportunities. Is your child just starting to |
| child needs educational services outside of | | | | learn to read, and will a long summer break |
| the school day? Have you been told that your | | | | prevent progress from continuing? You could |
| child does not qualify for summer school | | | | use this as a reason to ask for ESY, for your |
| because there is no proof of regression? | | | | child with a disability. |
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| This article will discuss the 6 factors that | | | | Factor 4: Interfering Behavior behavior that |
| IEP teams must consider when discussing | | | | affects your child's ability to benefit from |
| Extended School Year (ESY). | | | | special education. |
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| Extended school year is educational and | | | | Factor 5: Nature and Severity of Disability. |
| related services outside of the regular | | | | OSEP released a policy letter on February 4, |
| school year. The child must need ESY, in | | | | 2003 that states A public agency may not |
| order to receive a free appropriate public | | | | limit ESY services to particular categories |
| education (FAPE). ESY can extend beyond | | | | of disability, or unilaterally limit the |
| summer school, if the child needs it. | | | | type, amount, or duration of these services. |
| | | | Many school districts were only offering |
| In the court case Reusch vs. Fountain the | | | | extended school year services to children |
| court found six factors for IEP teams to | | | | with the most severe disabilities, this is |
| consider in deciding if a child is eligible | | | | not allowed. |
| for ESY services. | | | | |
| | | | Factor 6: Special circumstances that |
| Factor 1: Regression and Recoupment: Is the | | | | interfere with your child's ability to |
| child likely to lose critical academic or | | | | benefit from special education. Was your |
| functional skills, or fail to recover these | | | | child ill, or missed a lot of school because |
| skills within a reasonable time. | | | | of illness. You could use this reason to ask |
| | | | for ESY services for your child. |
| Many special education personnel only use | | | | |
| regression and recoupment to determine ESY | | | | By using these 6 factors you will be able to |
| eligibility. Courts and OSEP have ruled that | | | | advocate for ESY for your child. Children |
| this is not the only consideration. | | | | with autism, and also learning disabilities |
| | | | often need extended school year services, in |
| Factor 2: Degree of progress toward IEP | | | | order to benefit from their education. You |
| goals and objectives. If your child did not | | | | may have to fight for this important service, |
| make progress during the school year, you | | | | but it will be worth it. After all, isn't |
| could use this to ask for ESY. | | | | your child worth the fight! |
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