Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 42, October 19, 2024
(a) In addition to the requirements incorporated by reference in 34 CFR 300.106 (relating to extended school year services), charter schools and cyber charter schools shall use the following standards for determining whether a student with disabilities requires ESY as part of the student-s program: (1) At each IEP meeting for a student with disabilities, the charter school or cyber charter school shall determine whether the student is eligible for ESY services and if so, make subsequent determinations about the services to be provided.(2) In considering whether a student is eligible for ESY services, the IEP team shall consider the following factors, however, no single factor will be considered determinative: (i) Whether the student reverts to a lower level of functioning as evidenced by a measurable decrease in skills or behaviors which occurs as a result of an interruption in educational programming (Regression).(ii) Whether the student has the capacity to recover the skills or behavior patterns in which regression occurred to a level demonstrated prior to the interruption of educational programming (Recoupment).(iii) Whether the student's difficulties with regression and recoupment make it unlikely that the student will maintain the skills and behaviors relevant to IEP goals and objectives.(iv) The extent to which the student has mastered and consolidated an important skill or behavior at the point when educational programming would be interrupted.(v) The extent to which a skill or behavior is particularly crucial for the student to meet the IEP goals of self-sufficiency and independence from caretakers.(vi) The extent to which successive interruptions in educational programming result in a student's withdrawal from the learning process.(vii) Whether the student's disability is severe, such as autism/pervasive developmental disorder, serious emotional disturbance, severe intellectual disability, degenerative impairments with mental involvement and severe multiple disabilities.(b) Reliable sources of information regarding a student's educational needs, propensity to progress, recoupment potential and year to year progress may include the following: (1) Progress on goals in consecutive IEPs.(2) Progress reports maintained by educators, therapists and others having direct contact with the student before and after interruptions in the education program.(3) Reports by parents of negative changes in adaptive behaviors or in other skill areas.(4) Medical or other agency reports indicating degenerative-type difficulties, which become exacerbated during breaks in educational services.(5) Observations and opinions by educators, parents and others.(6) Results of tests, including criterion-referenced tests, curriculum-based assessments, ecological life skills assessments and other equivalent measures.(c) The need for ESY services will not be based on any of the following:(1) The desire or need for day care or respite care services.(2) The desire or need for a summer recreation program.(3) The desire or need for other programs or services that while they may provide educational benefit, are not required to ensure the provision of a FAPE.(d) Students with severe disabilities such as autism/ pervasive developmental disorder, serious emotional disturbance; severe intellectual disabilities; degenerative impairments with mental involvement; and severe multiple disabilities require expeditious determinations of eligibility for ESY services to be provided as follows: (1) Parents of students with severe disabilities shall be notified by the charter school or cyber charter school of the annual review meeting to ensure their participation.(2) An IEP review meeting must occur no later than February 28 of each school year for students with severe disabilities.(3) The notice of recommended educational placement (NOREP) shall be issued to the parent no later than March 31 of the school year for students with severe disabilities.(4) If a student with a severe disability transfers into a charter school or cyber charter school after the dates in paragraphs (2) and (3), and the ESY eligibility decision has not been made, the eligibility and program content must be determined at the IEP meeting.(e) Charter schools and cyber charter schools shall consider the eligibility for ESY services of all students with disabilities at the IEP meeting. ESY determinations for students other than those described in subsection (d) are not subject to the time lines in subsection (d). However, these determinations shall still be made in a timely manner. If the parents disagree with the charter school's or cyber charter school's recommendation on ESY, the parents will be afforded an expedited due process hearing.The provisions of this §711.44 amended June 27, 2008, effective 7/1/2008, 38 Pa.B. 3593.Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 48. December 2, 2023, effective 12/2/2023The provisions of this §711.44 amended under sections 1732-A(c)(2) and 1749-A(b)(8) of the Charter School Law (24 P. S. 17-1732-A(c)(2) and 17-1749-A(b)(8).