If you've ever been confused about Extended School Year (ESY)—what it is, who qualifies, and whether your child is truly getting what they need—you're not alone.
Schools don’t exactly make it easy to understand, and let’s be honest… sometimes they make ESY seem like a summer school bonus instead of the individualized, legally mandated support that it really is.
Here’s the deal: ESY is NOT just about academics, and it’s
NOT just a summer program.
It’s a critical piece of your child’s education that could make the difference between progress and regression.
But too often, parents get shut down because they don’t know how to push back.
That’s why in this episode, Charmaine pulls back the curtain on the myths and realities of ESY so you can walk into your next IEP meeting prepared and confident.
What You’ll Learn (And Why You Can’t Afford to Miss
This)
00:00 – Why ESY is NOT just about summer school (and what IDEA really says about it)
02:03 – How to decode federal vs. state laws (and use them to
YOUR advantage)
05:11 – The 3-step formula for proving ESY eligibility (so they can’t deny your child the services they need)
07:38 – The biggest ESY myths (and how schools use them to deny services)
10:28 – How to request an individualized ESY plan (because a one-size-fits-all approach is NOT okay)
14:52 – Legal loopholes & Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in ESY (so your child doesn’t get placed somewhere they don’t belong)
19:37 – Final thoughts & Charmaine’s pro tip for winning the ESY battle.
