Spring IEP meetings often cover programming for a student (who has an IEP) for the summer. Parents need to understand the difference between “summer school” or “extended school year”.
Typically, summer school is something the district offers to all children in the district, regardless of any disability. Many times it lasts a few weeks and has enrichment activities, or often in high school provides credit recovery.
“Extended school year” is specifically for students who have IEPs, and is an opportunity for the student to work on specific goals in the IEP. The intent is for the student to maintain skill(s) across the summer. Since this is an IEP team decision, it is individualized for the student and written into the IEP.
When school district folks on the IEP team present a student’s eligibility for ESY, they sometimes mention only “regression” they’ve seen perhaps over winter or spring break. However, that is not the only criteria for determining ESY eligibility. http://dese.mo.gov/se/compliance/Q&A/ESY.html
Parents can take an advocate to an IEP meeting. Avoid being bamboozled. To get information from a professional special ed advocate, please complete the form:
Missouri Special Education Advocates 