As a Special Education Director, ensuring that all students receive the support they need, even beyond the regular school year, is crucial. Extended School Year (ESY) services are an essential part of this support system, especially for students in Texas. Here's a simple breakdown of what ESY services entail and how they can benefit your students.
What Are ESY Services?
ESY services are special education services provided beyond the regular school year. This can include periods such as winter, spring, or summer break. The primary goal is to prevent severe or substantial regression in students that cannot be recouped within a reasonable period of time. The ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee determines the need for these services based on documented evidence.
Determining the Need for ESY Services
During the review of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), the ARD committee considers whether ESY services are necessary. This decision is based on:
- Regression and recoupment information from service providers and parents
- Evaluations (both formal and informal) provided by the Local Education Agency (LEA) and/or the student's parents
Students receiving ESY services are reported with the same instructional setting code as during the regular school year. For students turning three years old during the summer, the ARD committee may decide to start the IEP at the beginning of the school year or through ESY services if needed for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Maintaining ESY Services Records
Each special education teacher and related service provider is responsible for keeping detailed records of the ESY services provided. These records must include:
- District and campus name
- County-district-campus number
- Beginning and ending dates of each week of ESY services
- Grade level of each student
- Student's name
- Instructional setting code
- Total actual contact hours served (recorded in 30-minute increments)
After the ESY services period ends, these records are signed by the teachers and forwarded to the superintendent for safekeeping. The district retains these records locally for audit purposes and reports the data to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Important Considerations
It's important to note that students coded with an instructional setting code of 40 (Special Education Mainstream) are ineligible for state funding through ESY services. However, this does not mean that mainstream services cannot be provided. If a student requires mainstream services during the summer, the district should provide them, but funding must come from other sources.
ESY services are a vital part of ensuring that students receiving special education continue to thrive beyond the regular school year. By understanding and implementing these services correctly, we can help prevent regression and support our students' ongoing development.
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