The ESY Period Is Where Next School Year Begins
Most of us have been conditioned to believe that the first opportunity to discuss our child's goals, supports, and accommodations is at that first IEP meeting after school begins.
But after 18 years of navigating the school system with my son, Nathan, who has cerebral palsy, I discovered something that completely changed the way I advocate.
The ESY period is actually the first planning opportunity for the next school year.
By the time your child begins ESY, they have already completed an entire school year. You now have something incredibly valuable—real experience. You know what worked, what didn't, where your child made progress, and where additional support is needed.
Instead of waiting until September, you can begin those conversations during the summer with your child's case manager, teachers, therapists, and IEP team. The information you share during this time can help shape back-to-school planning so that approved supports, accommodations, and services are ready to be implemented from the very first day of the new school year—not months later.
That's why I created this free guide.
The IEP Quick Guide: Summer Action Plan for Special Needs Mama Bears®
Inside, I share the three simple things I do every summer to help strengthen my son's IEP before September arrives. These are practical, real-world strategies I've developed through nearly two decades of advocating for my son and supporting other families navigating special education.
This isn't legal advice. It isn't theory. It's practical guidance from one Mama Bear to another—designed to help you walk into the new school year feeling informed, prepared, and confident.
Because you know your child better than anyone else.
You hold the pen to your child's educational story.
Download your free IEP summer planning guide today and start preparing for September—before September arrives.
