Extended School Year Services (ESY) - The Special Education Team

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
7/1999
Revised 8/2004
The following question and answer excerpts are from Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction: Learning Support/Equity and Advocacy Information Update Bulletin No.
96.01 that addresses ESY concerns:
What are extended school year services?
School districts must provide a free appropriate public education to each resident child
who has disabilities. In order to provide a free appropriate public education, districts
must ensure that all children with disabilities receive special education and related
services consistent with the provisions of their individualized education programs
(IEPs). Special education and related services provided pursuant to an IEP,
beyond the limits of the school term, are extended school year services.
What is the school term?
Section 115.001(12), Wis. Stats. defines “school term” as the time commencing with the
first school day and ending with the last school day that the schools of the district are in
operation for attendance of pupils in a school year, other than for the operation of
summer classes.
When is a school district required to provide extended school year services
to a child with disabilities?
A school district is required to provide extended school year services to a child when
the child requires such services to receive a free appropriate public
education. If the child requires extended school year services to receive a free
appropriate public education, the school district must develop an IEP for the child that
includes extended school year services. These requirements apply to all children with
disabilities between the ages of three and 22 who have not graduated from high school
with a regular diploma.
Who decides whether a child requires extended school year services in
order to receive a free appropriate public education?
This decision is the responsibility of the members of the IEP team. When the IEP team
is meeting to develop the child's IEP, they must consider, as appropriate, whether a
child needs extended school year services in order to receive a free appropriate public
education. The Department of Public Instruction recommends that determinations
regarding extended school year services during the summer be made prior to the end of
April to permit adequate time to arrange for needed services.
CESA #9: 1999 Determining ESY Services, Revised 2004 13