Disability people need education too


Special Education: 6 Factors to Consider When Advocating for Extended School Year Services

Are you the parent of a child with autism orFactor 3: Emerging skills/and Breakthrough
a learning disability, who believes that youropportunities. Is your child just starting to
child needs educational services outside oflearn to read, and will a long summer break
the school day? Have you been told that yourprevent progress from continuing? You could
child does not qualify for summer schooluse this as a reason to ask for ESY, for your
because  there  is  no  proof  of regression?child  with  a  disability.
This article will discuss the 6 factors thatFactor 4: Interfering Behavior behavior that
IEP teams must consider when discussingaffects your child's ability to benefit from
Extended  School  Year  (ESY).special  education.
Extended school year is educational andFactor 5: Nature and Severity of Disability.
related services outside of the regularOSEP released a policy letter on February 4,
school year. The child must need ESY, in2003 that states A public agency may not
order to receive a free appropriate publiclimit ESY services to particular categories
education (FAPE). ESY can extend beyondof 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 theextended school year services to children
court found six factors for IEP teams towith the most severe disabilities, this is
consider in deciding if a child is eligiblenot  allowed.
for  ESY  services.
Factor 6: Special circumstances that
Factor 1: Regression and Recoupment: Is theinterfere with your child's ability to
child likely to lose critical academic orbenefit from special education. Was your
functional skills, or fail to recover thesechild 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 ESYBy using these 6 factors you will be able to
eligibility. Courts and OSEP have ruled thatadvocate 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 IEPorder to benefit from their education. You
goals and objectives. If your child did notmay have to fight for this important service,
make progress during the school year, youbut 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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