Parents of special needs children sometimes see that their children respond positively to private ESY (Extended School Year) summer tutoring services that are funded by the school district. In response to these positive achievements, parents then ask for a continuation of these services during the school year only to be met with resistance by school staff in IEP meetings.
When evaluating the need for continued private services during the school year, parents must be able to show clear evidence that these services are necessary to provide FAPE and that the school program does not, or cannot, provide required services. Here is where parents often have difficulty in advocating for such extended services. To help evaluate the strength of the case, consider these suggestions:
· Be sure to schedule an IEP meeting well before the beginning of the school year.
· Ask private ESY providers to actively participate in the IEP meeting
· Progress on specific goals and objectives during ESY services must be clearly documented.
· Careful and objective assessment should be made to determine if the private services are needed because the school cannot or will not provide programs to address the needs served by the private ESY provider.
