Barriers to Providing Extended School Year Services to Students With Disabilities: A Pilot Study of Rural Special Education Directors

• In Event: Culture and Diversity in Special Education

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine those barriers reported by special education directors to providing extended school year (ESY) services. Results indicate four barriers to providing ESY services listed in order of importance by special education directors: finding qualified personnel to work over the summer; determining eligibility for ESY services; compliance of parents; and limited financial resources to provide ESY services. Rural special education directors reported the barrier of finding qualified personnel significantly more often than non-rural directors. Rural special education directors also reported significantly more barriers to providing ESY services in general.

Authors

• Lucy M. Barnard-Brak, Texas Tech University

• Tara Stevens, Texas Tech University

• Evelyn Valenzuela, Texas Tech University