1. Stop having new people run it at the school level each year. They have intern principals that don't know anything yet, and often the principal has never done it either, so it is up to the experienced teachers to try to explain what needs to happen.
2. Develop a curriculum with a theme so that kids have something a little more meaningful to do than worksheets. Pay some teachers to develop this. Make sure these teachers have taught ESY before.
3. Give the schools enough supplies, such as crayons, paper, glue, scissors, etc
4. Provide BOOKS that are not downloaded off the computer and stapled together by the teacher who doesn't have time for this. Allow the teachers to use the books at the host school. They might lose a few, but so what?
5. Allow the teachers and kids to use the computer labs and Smartboards and other technology at the host school.
6. Allow the students to use the library. Again, some books might be lost, but not many, and so what?
7. Allow the teachers to teach the same level of students that they have in the regular year so they can hit the ground running. It is very hard for a sixth grade teacher to suddenly find out she is going to have first graders.
8. Allow the kids to have recess!
9. Develop some science and history activities that can be used for practicing math and reading. Provide needed supplies.
10. Ask experienced teachers what is needed to make it better.
11. Don't force every student into a research based program UNLESS they have an academic need in that area AND are being instructed at their level.
12. For kids that need socialization, steer them to Therapeutic Rec or other programs.

What is ESY?

Esy= extended school year or summer school. Our school actually does a good job with it, but we are a smaller one and have a motivated assistant principal running it who does a great job. Sounds like an administration issue.

@Happening - Thanks.

I never would have guessed that what the meaning. In the back of my mind (in my best Joe Pesci/My Cousin Vinny voice) I pondered if it meant Extremely Slow Yutes. ;-)

Summer school. I guess it is better than retaking an entire year. Wonder how difficult it is to get motivated, qualified teachers for it?

Its not summer school, its summer daycare at taxpayers' expense.

ESY is for reinforcing IEP-targeted needs for kids who would regress over the summer otherwise. It's not for teaching new material, classroom-wide instruction (which would be contrary to ESY's stated purpose of reinforcing specific skills for specific kids), or themed math and science adventures.

If you're looking for a summer camp, send your kid to a summer camp. Don't go into an IEP meeting and ask for ESY when your kid doesn't need ESY. It's not summer school in the traditional sense and it's not supposed to be. If you want that, your kids go to the credit recovery classes to make up that Bio credit they missed during the year.

ESY is under-funded, but it's also the case that there are a bunch of kids in ESY because their parents have no idea what it's supposed to be and want free stuff over the summer.

Happening Wrote:
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> Esy= extended school year or summer school. Our
> school actually does a good job with it, but we
> are a smaller one and have a motivated assistant
> principal running it who does a great job. Sounds
> like an administration issue. taxpayer-funded babysitting for minorities and illegals


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