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Date: August 13,
2008
To: Parents and Advocates for Students using Special Education
Services and Supports
From: Liz Bauer
Subject: Update on Michigan Department of Education Standards
for Extended School Year Services in Michigan
On August 12, 2008 the State Board of Education approved the
Standards for Extended School Year Services (ESY) in Michigan.
The Standards will be embedded in Administrative Rules for
Special Education. Michigan Department of Education submitted a
request for rulemaking on June 16, 2008. It is anticipated that
this rule change will be presented for public comment in the
fall of 2008. However, the statute is already clear that
Extended School Year Services and supports MUST be considered
for EVERY Student with a disability of any characteristic or
degree at EACH Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team
Meeting. ESY services must be provided if the IEP team
determines that such services are necessary for the provision of
a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to the student.
Details of the Standards and the process for determining the
need for ESY services are available on the Department’s website
www.michigan.gov/mde
or
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Item_AA_243389_7.pdf.
Please study these and be prepared for IEP Team meetings.
Advocacy organizations are encouraged to provide parent training
and information on the need for data in determining the need for
ESY services and supports.
I am writing this to all of you to let you know of the Board’s
action and also to ask that you tell everyone in your network
that they should EXPECT to discuss the need for ESY services at
their IEP Team meeting. Further, IEP Team meetings should be
scheduled to allow time for resolution of differences including:
mediation, facilitated IEP, due process complaints and hearings
and state complaints. IDEA Regulations specify that “public
agencies are expected to ensure that these determinations are
made in a timely manner so that students with disabilities who
require ESY services in order to receive FAPE can receive those
necessary services [Federal Register, Vo.64, No.48, 1999,
p.12576]
Board members were assured that educators are eager to receive
these standards to guide their practice and that they will
implement them even though the rule-making process is
forthcoming.
I will be very interested in your experience. You may contact me
at:
Elizabeth W. Bauer
1355 Lake Park Drive
Birmingham, MI 48009
248 540 4656 or
ebauer7400@aol.com
Elizabeth W. Bauer, Member
Michigan State Board of Education
1355 Lake Park Drive
Birmingham, MI 48009-1089
248 540 4656
www.michigan.gov/sbe
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