April 28, 2026

Finishing Strong: Making ESY Decisions That Actually Make Sense

It’s hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of the school year. With spring in full swing, school teams are balancing progress monitoring, end-of-year meetings, and planning for what comes next. For many educators, Extended School Year (ESY) decisions are either already underway or quickly rising to the top of the to-do list. The question is: Are our ESY decisions thoughtful, individualized, and truly aligned to student needs? Or are we rushing to check a box?

As educators and leaders, you know that ESY is not about simply offering more school. It is about ensuring continuity of critical skills for students with disabilities. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ESY must be determined on an individual basis, grounded in data, and designed to support a student’s ability to make meaningful progress. When done well, ESY decisions protect hard-earned gains and set students up for a stronger start in the fall.

As you head into ESY planning, it’s important to consider a few key areas that can strengthen both your process and your outcomes:

Start with Clarity: What Does the Student Truly Need?

Strong ESY decisions begin with the right lens. Shifting the conversation from “Does this student qualify?” to “What does this student need to maintain or continue progress?” keeps the focus on the student, where it belongs.

Teams need to ground that conversation in data. Progress monitoring, service logs, and work samples can help identify patterns of regression, recoupment, or emerging skills that may be at risk. While professional judgment plays an important role, pairing it with clear data ensures decisions are both thoughtful and defensible.

Just as important is identifying the most critical skills; it’s important to recognize that ESY is not intended to replicate the full school year. Instead, teams should prioritize a small number of foundational skills—specifically, those skills that have the greatest impact on the student’s overall progress and independence.

Strengthen the Process: Thoughtful, Collaborative Decision-Making

ESY decisions are strongest when they are intentional and collaborative, not rushed or routine.

Avoid patterns where decisions are made based on special education programs, disability categories, or “what we’ve always done.” Each student’s needs should drive the recommendation. Taking time to individualize decisions not only ensures compliance but also builds trust across teams.

Preparation is a key component of the process. When teams come to IEP meetings with data reviewed, observations gathered, and a preliminary recommendation in mind, conversations are more productive and focused.

Equally important is ensuring that all voices are part of the discussion. General education teachers, special education providers, related service staff, and families each bring valuable insight. Creating space for those perspectives leads to stronger, more well-rounded decisions.

Plan for Follow-Through: From Recommendation to Reality

A well-written ESY decision is only effective if it can be implemented with fidelity!

Think ahead about logistics, including staffing needs, scheduling, service delivery models, locations, and materials. Aligning these details early helps to ensure that what is written in the IEP translates into a meaningful summer experience for students.

Clear communication with families also plays a critical role. ESY can sometimes be misunderstood, so taking time to explain how decisions were made, what data was considered, and what services will look like helps build clarity and trust.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of documentation. Capturing not just the decision, but also the reasoning behind it and the data used to support it, reinforces continuity and strengthens the team’s position if questions arise later.

As the school year winds down, ESY decisions are an opportunity to ensure that student data, critical skill priorities, and individualized needs are driving team decisions. This is the time to be intentional about how those decisions are made and documented. A little focus now can prevent skill loss, reduce frustration, and create a smoother transition into the next school year.

Finishing strong isn’t just about closing out the year. It’s about setting students up for continued success. The care and intention behind your ESY decisions is a powerful part of that work.