Extended School Year Services for Students with Severe Handicaps: A National Survey

Abstract

A national survey was conducted in order to examine extended school year services for students with severe handicaps. A six-item questionnaire was mailed to all 50 State Directors of Special Education in order to ascertain the number of states currently providing extended year services, eligibility criteria, and information on duration and funding. This article examines legal and educational bases in support of extended school year programming and presents the results of a survey that showed wide discrepancies between states in how these services are provided. These results are discussed relative to the need for empirically based guidelines to determine student eligibility, optimal program length, and cost-efficient funding patterns.