"I've sat at over 500 IEP tables."
I'm Mary, a former special education teacher and administrator, a Special Education Advocate, and co-founder of The Advocate Ally with my son, Graham. I left the system to help families directly. I created this special education resource because too many parents feel pressured to accept generic, "cookie-cutter" IEPs.
The guidance below is grounded in the same practical, document-based questions I raise in IEP meetings every day. Use it to ask for clearer, more individualized support for your child.
Mary
Co-founder, The Advocate Ally
Start with the record, then choose the next step
You've noticed your child loses skills over school breaks and takes weeks to recover when school resumes. You asked for Extended School Year (ESY) services, but the school denied them.
What to Check
- Skills before the break, during the break, and after school resumes.
- How many days or weeks it takes to regain the skill after each break.
- Any behavior, communication, self-care, academic, or related-service skill that is hard to recover.
Red Flags
- The school gave a verbal answer but the IEP, PWN, progress report, or meeting note does not show the decision.
- The response focuses on opinion, staffing, or habit without naming data, records, or the written IEP section.
- The issue could affect services, placement, discipline, safety, graduation, or evaluation timelines.
Documents to Gather
- Work samples, therapy logs, data sheets, short parent notes, or dated videos if appropriate.
- Progress reports before and after winter, spring, or summer breaks.
- Outside provider notes describing regression or recoupment concerns.
Sample Finding
The record shows Name the specific skills that regress instead of asking for a broad summer program.
Parent-Safe Sentence
"Ask the IEP team to review ESY using individualized data, including what skills regress during breaks and how long recoupment takes."
Who to Contact
Start with the teacher or provider for facts, copy the case manager, and ask the IEP coordinator or special education director for a written implementation plan if the issue continues.
Privacy Guardrail
Share only the facts and records needed for this request. Avoid sending broad medical history, unnecessary diagnoses, or extra student identifiers unless the school process specifically requires them.
When to Get Local Help
Get qualified local help if the school response could affect discipline, safety, placement, service denial, evaluation rights, missed timelines, retaliation concerns, state complaint, mediation, due process, graduation, or unclear state-specific deadlines.
Source Grounding
- IDEA IEP contents
- IDEA review and revision of IEPs
- IDEA prior written notice
- CPIR prior written notice
- IDEA services and aids
- IDEA related services
This guide is educational information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines can vary by state, district, and procedure.
What's Happening
You've noticed your child loses skills over school breaks and takes weeks to recover when school resumes. You asked for Extended School Year (ESY) services, but the school denied them.
Rights to Review
ESY may be available when the IEP team determines, on an individual basis, that it is necessary for the child to receive FAPE. Regression and recoupment data may be relevant, but the decision should not be based on a single rule or disability category.
- The IEP team should make an individualized ESY determination when the student's needs indicate it may be necessary for FAPE.
- The IEP team cannot use a blanket policy to deny ESY (e.g., 'we don't offer ESY for that disability').
- You can provide your own data showing regression during breaks.
- If denied, ask the school for a Prior Written Notice (PWN) with their reasoning.
Build a Calm Written Record
When a school conversation feels urgent, the safest first move is usually a narrow written record: what happened, what you are asking for, and what evidence should be reviewed.
The Calmer First Written Step
Ask the IEP team to review ESY using individualized data, including what skills regress during breaks and how long recoupment takes.
What to Document
- Skills before the break, during the break, and after school resumes.
- How many days or weeks it takes to regain the skill after each break.
- Any behavior, communication, self-care, academic, or related-service skill that is hard to recover.
Evidence to Attach
- Work samples, therapy logs, data sheets, short parent notes, or dated videos if appropriate.
- Progress reports before and after winter, spring, or summer breaks.
- Outside provider notes describing regression or recoupment concerns.
When to Ask for PWN
Ask for PWN if ESY is denied, if the team uses a blanket rule, or if the decision does not identify the data reviewed.
Keep the Request Narrow
- Name the specific skills that regress instead of asking for a broad summer program.
- Ask what level, frequency, and duration of ESY the team considered.
- Ask how the school measured regression and recoupment.
What Not to Say
Avoid: Broad accusations about intent or motive.
Try: Tie the concern to the written IEP, evaluation data, service logs, meeting notes, or a specific school decision.
Avoid: A long history of every frustration in the same email.
Try: Lead with the one decision, service gap, or document section you need the team to address now.
Avoid: ESY should be automatic because my child has an IEP.
Try: Please review whether ESY is needed for FAPE based on this child's regression and recoupment data.
Make the written request easy to answer
Keep the message short enough that the school can respond point by point. Use this structure before adding personal details.
Ask the IEP team to review ESY using individualized data, including what skills regress during breaks and how long recoupment takes.
Skills before the break, during the break, and after school resumes.
Name the specific skills that regress instead of asking for a broad summer program.
Ask for PWN if ESY is denied, if the team uses a blanket rule, or if the decision does not identify the data reviewed.
Turn the concern into a usable record
A stronger first message usually sounds specific, documented, and answerable. Use this as the shape, then swap in your child's actual dates and IEP pages.
A parent is trying to document this concern: Your child loses skills over summer break, but the school says ESY isn't needed. Here's how to document regression and request team review.
Work samples, therapy logs, data sheets, short parent notes, or dated videos if appropriate.
Name the specific skills that regress instead of asking for a broad summer program.
What To Do Right Now
Collect data: track your child's skills before, during, and after school breaks (use checklists, work samples, videos).
Request the school's regression/recoupment data—they should be measuring this already.
If they deny ESY, request PWN and ask: 'What objective data did the team use to determine ESY is not needed?'
Consider state complaint options if the denial lacks data support.
Start With the Written Record
Before you send a letter or file a complaint, start with the written IEP. The audit can flag documented gaps, weak language, and sections that may deserve a written question or closer professional review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ESY?
What counts as 'regression'?
Can a school limit ESY to certain disabilities?
Review the document before you escalate
Upload your IEP to identify written sections that may need clarification, correction, or professional review.
Review My IEP