Parents have the right of full participation in the ESYS decision, and they must be fully advised of their rights. Parents are entitled to a meaningful opportunity to participate in the discussion of their child's needs and the formulation of their child's educational plan. This means they are also entitled to a full explanation of ESYS rights and the procedures used to determine those rights. Prior to the end of the school year, a decision should be made at the IEP meeting regarding whether a student needs extended school year services. There are three main components upon which the IEP Team should base their considerations regarding the provision of extended school year services.
Critical skills represent knowledge or performance that is essential to the progress of the student.
Critical skills are defined by the needs of the student, his or her goals, and progress indicators. They are different for each child. Each IEP Team needs to identify on an individual basis the critical skills of a student. Identification of critical skills is the first step in the ESYS decision process. The identification of critical skills does not, in and of itself, establish or preclude the need for extended school year services.