Special Education in the Summertime

This month, the New York State Education Department (“NYSED”) issued updated guidance to school districts about the delivery of special education services this summer: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/2021-memos/memo-special-education-requirements-approaches-address-covid-19-students-disabilities.pdf . NYSED reminded school districts of the responsibility of Committees on Special Education to make individualized determinations as to students’ need for compensatory education in the aftermath of the pandemic. NYSED acknowledged that compensatory services are needed to make up for skills that were lost when an appropriate special education could not be provided. According to the recent guidance, school districts are permitted to recommend compensatory services on your child’s IEP.

Additionally, NYSED acknowledged that “some students who may not have been eligible for [Extended School Year] programs in the past may now meet the eligibility criteria due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their ability to learn and demonstrate progress.” Extended School Year programs extend the learning environment for up to 12 months to prevent substantial regression over the summer months. School districts are required to provide transportation for in-person ESY programs offered this summer.

Book a virtual consultation at https://www.msrlegal.org/book-your-consultation to find out more about your summertime special education options. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @MSRLegalConsulting and Twitter @MSRLegalOroma where we’ll be posting the latest developments in education policy.

Happy Friday!

Oroma

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