Perhaps at your child's IEP meeting it was decided that he qualifies for summer school or extended school year. Consider these things before making the final decision.
Extended school year (summer school) offers many benefits for the child with special needs and his family.
Extended School Year Benefits
- Extended school year provides ongoing instruction so that skills can be maintained. Typically extended school year is offered only to special needs students who will show significant regression in skills and have difficulty recouping those skills within the first few weeks of school. It may also be offered to children who need ongoing instruction to continue their progress. While the later may seem to be true for all children with special needs (or, in fact, for all children) this qualification is frequently for children who are autistic or profoundly deaf.
- Extended school year offers continued therapy as stated in the child's IEP. If a child attends extended school year, his IEP will outline the therapies that will be offered during the session. The benefits of continued speech, occupational or physical therapy; mobility training; or music or art therapy go without saying.
- Extended school year is often a route to socialization with peers. Many (perhaps most) child with special needs socialize primarily at school. School offers the dual purpose of place of education and socialization.
- Extended school year provides consistency in routine. When routine is altered, many children with a disability are upset. Continuation of the typical routine is helpful in allowing these children to focus on new skills and not on trying to figure out the schedule.
- Extended school year provides respite for parents. Teachers and therapists of children with special needs make a choice to work with these kids. Parents do not (unless it is a situation of adoption). Parenting a child with special needs is often exhausting physically and emotionally. A short respite while the child is in extended school year can provide a much need breather for parents.
- Extended school year provides time for parents and siblings. Even the most flexible, supportive family is impacted by having a child with special needs. Physical and behavior needs can impact the family's ability to participate in activities for other siblings. Often, extended school year allows parents and siblings to attend a class (swimming, etc.) or go on an outing (shopping) that might be difficult for the child with special needs. This is not to say that such outings are unimportant for children with special needs. It is, however, important to devote time, attention, and activities to the child's typically developing siblings.
Read my next article for Possible Drawbacks to Extended School Year.
The copyright of the article Special Needs for Summer School in Special Needs Parenting is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish Special Needs for Summer School in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
