Special Education Services
Plano Independent School District

Extended School Year Services

Extended School Year Services is an extension of the student's school year in an attempt to prevent the loss of critical skills. The loss of a critical skill results in one or more of the following:

* placement in a more restrictive environment

* significant loss of self-sufficiency in self-help skill areas as evidenced by an increase in direct services and/or an increase in the amount of time required to provide special education or related services

* loss of access to community based independent living skills instruction or an independent living environment provided by non-educational sources

* loss of access to on the job training or productive employment

The A.R.D. documents the need for and defines the provision of extended school year services based on data from parents and school staff. The student must exhibit regression (the loss of a previously mastered critical skill) without recoupment of that skill within a reasonable amount of time.

As with all special education services, decisions about E.S.Y. are individualized. The decision is based on evaluation (formal and/or informal) and professional judgment. Professional judgment is based upon generally accepted knowledge of a student's disability and/or the manner in which the disability affects the student in question.