ESY | A Step Up Academy

Extended School Year (ESY)

Learning Continues. Growth Continues.

Learning doesn't stop when the school year ends, and neither does a student's potential.

A Step Up Academy's Extended School Year (ESY) program provides students with six weeks of individualized educational programming designed to maintain and strengthen the academic, behavioral, communication, clinical, and functional skills developed throughout the school year. This important continuation of specialized instruction is guided by each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

But our ESY programming is about more than just maintaining skills - it's about building on them, too. Our students continue to build confidence and independence while fostering relationships with others and engaging in summer activities.

What is Extended School Year (ESY)?

Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education and related services provided beyond the traditional school year when an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines they are necessary for a student’s progress. The Pennsylvania Department of Education allows for ESY services that are designed to maintain meaningful educational progress by supporting critical academic, behavioral, communication, functional, and related skills that cannot be interrupted for extended periods of time.

ESY is not the same as summer school. Rather than providing enrichment or remediation, ESY continues specially designed instruction and related services that are individualized to each eligible student's educational needs.

At ASUA, every enrolled student is eligible to participate in our ESY program. As a Pennsylvania licensed Private Special Education School serving students with autism and related exceptionalities, ASUA provides a continuum of individualized educational programming throughout the summer to support consistency, skill maintenance, and continued progress toward each student's IEP goals. Participation in ESY is determined through collaboration between the student's educational team and family, allowing each student to continue benefiting from structured, individualized programming as part of their educational journey.

The ASUA Approach to ESY

At ASUA, we believe summer should be a time of continued growth, exploration, connection, and joyful learning. While ESY services are designed to maintain critical educational skills, we see the summer months as another opportunity for students to strengthen existing abilities, discover new interests, and continue preparing for inclusive futures.

Our ESY program thoughtfully blends individualized academics, behavioral supports, clinical services, community-based instruction, work-based learning, and engaging summer experiences into one cohesive educational program. Students continue receiving individualized instruction and related services while participating in activities that foster communication, collaboration, self-regulation, problem-solving, creativity, independence, and meaningful community participation.

Educational experiences are intentionally adapted across our full continuum of ages and grades, ensuring every student continues progressing toward the individualized goals outlined in their IEP. By combining evidence-based instruction with authentic, age-appropriate summer experiences, ESY becomes more than a continuation of the school year; it becomes another opportunity for students to learn, grow, and thrive.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most meaningful learning happens outside the classroom. Throughout ESY, students participate in a wide variety of age-appropriate community experiences that encourage the generalization of skills across real-world environments. Whether visiting local museums, farms, parks, zoos, or other community destinations, students practice communication, social interaction, flexibility, self-advocacy, and independence while exploring the world around them.

Students also engage in community-based instruction that transforms everyday experiences into meaningful learning opportunities. Activities may include planning a meal, developing a shopping list, purchasing ingredients, preparing recipes, or participating in other hands-on experiences that strengthen functional academics and independent living skills. For older students, work-based learning opportunities continue throughout the summer, allowing employment-related skills to develop through authentic experiences that support long-term transition goals.

Water Safety Through Swimming

Swimming is one of the most anticipated and important parts of ESY.

Research has consistently shown that autistic children are at significantly greater risk of accidental drowning than their neurotypical peers, making water safety education an essential life skill. At ASUA, we partner with local organizations to provide students with opportunities to build confidence in and around water while practicing safety skills in a structured, supportive environment.

Swimming also promotes physical activity, communication, social engagement, sensory regulation, and simply enjoying one of summer's most memorable experiences.

Each year, ASUA's ESY program is given an overarching theme that unites all participants across classrooms and age groups by connecting everyone together with the same spirit of inspiration, learning and creativity.

Our 2026 theme, Growing Together, celebrates the many ways students learn from one another while cultivating new skills and building greater independence. Throughout the summer, these goals are achieved with:

Themed activities
Collaborative projects
Community experiences
and special events

Growth doesn't take the summer off, and ESY reinforces this idea by ensuring that every student is given the opportunity to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and personally.

Extended School Year (ESY)

Learning Continues. Growth Continues.

What is Extended School Year (ESY)?

ESY 2026: Growing Together