Norwalk School District lays out 2025 extended school year schedule, eligibility and sites

Norwalk School District administrators presented details of the district’s 2025 Extended School Year (ESY) program at the special education curriculum subcommittee meeting on March 18, describing who is eligible, how eligibility is determined, daily schedules and site assignments, and the registration and staffing timeline.

Veronica Lenzen, one of two education administrators for specialized learning and student services, said ESY is “special education or related services that are provided to a student with an IEP when school or preschool programs are not in session over the summer,” adding the program’s “primary purpose … is to prevent loss of skills.” Hannah Cohen, special education administrator for related services, said related services (speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling and behavioral instruction) are reviewed using the same criteria when teams determine ESY eligibility.

The subcommittee was given the district’s eligibility considerations, which staff said focus on whether a student will lose skills or behaviors tied to IEP goals, how long it would take to recoup losses, whether a break would substantially reduce the…