Definition: Extended School Year (ESY)is a program which may provide a disabled child with services during the summer months. ESY programming should be offered to a student who regresses significantly in academic, social and/or related skills that are outlined in that child's Individualized Educational Program when the child is out of school for an extended period of time.According to Wrightslaw, every student with a disability is entitled to and individual education plan. Additionally, students also have to be offered extended school year, free and appropriate including transportation. the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education ruled that even students regarded as disabled under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and not eligible for services under IDEA, have to be considered for ESY services. A letter of finding, issued by OCR regarding the Baltimore city public schools, states that "Section 504 regulations require that the individual needs of every child be examined, considered, and met. While 180 days of school may be adequate for some handicapped students, it may not be adequate for others...". Eligibility is determined for each student by the Individual Education Program team. For us, Little Pickel's team evaluated him on his ability to transition, his frustration level, his communication skills, and his tendency to regress. Because we live in Illinois, they tend to use a regression-recoupment analysis to determine eligibility for ESY. "In addition to significant regression and/or limited recoupment, courts have set forth other ESY criteria to be applied by a Team, as follows: * the degree of the child's impairment * the parents' ability to provide structure at home * the child's rate of progress * the child's specific behavior and/or physical problems * the availability of alternative resources * the child's ability to interact with non-disabled children * the specific curricular areas in which the child needs continuing attention * the vocational and transition needs of the child * whether the service requested is "extraordinary" rather than usual in consideration of the child's condition.