For many students with disabilities across Long Island, the school year does not end when the final bell rings in June. Extended school year programs, commonly known as ESY, provide continued special education services through the summer months for students whose IEPs determine that a break in services would result in meaningful regression in skills or progress. For these students and their families, ESY is not a summer enrichment option. It is a continuation of the educational and therapeutic support that the school year provides, and it carries the same legal entitlements, including transportation, that apply during the regular academic calendar.
Understanding how extended school year transportation works on Long Island, what families are entitled to expect, and what to look for in a professional transportation provider is important information for parents, caregivers, and district administrators who are coordinating summer services. WE Transport has been providing student transportation across Long Island and the broader Metro New York area since 1957. ESY transportation is a consistent and carefully managed part of what we do, and families and districts across Nassau and Suffolk counties have depended on us to serve their students through the summer months for decades.
What Extended School Year Transportation Means for Long Island Families
When a student’s IEP includes transportation as a related service, that entitlement extends to ESY programming. The student is entitled to the same type of transportation during the summer program that their IEP specifies during the regular school year. For students who receive door-to-door yellow bus service during the academic year, that same access applies during ESY. For students with specific accommodations such as limited travel time, air-conditioned vehicles, or specialized equipment, those accommodations carry over into the summer session as well.
For families across Nassau and Suffolk County whose children receive ESY services, understanding this entitlement is the first step in ensuring that transportation is properly arranged before the summer program begins. Schools and district offices play an important role in coordinating ESY transportation, and families who communicate their needs early give administrators the lead time needed to build accurate routes and confirm service before the program start date.
Learn more about WE Transport and our history of serving Long Island students and families on our about page.
Why Consistency Matters for ESY Students
For students with disabilities, particularly those who rely on routine and predictability as part of their daily structure, consistency in transportation is not simply a logistical preference. It is a genuine support for the student’s ability to engage with the ESY program and manage the transitions that each program day requires. A familiar driver, a familiar vehicle, and a familiar route reduce anxiety and help students arrive at their summer program ready to participate rather than unsettled by unfamiliar conditions.
WE Transport understands this deeply. Our drivers are trained to work with students across a wide range of disabilities and needs, and our approach to special needs transportation is built around the kind of consistent, patient, and attentive service that makes a real difference for the students in our care. When families and districts choose to continue with the same transportation provider for ESY that they use during the regular school year, that continuity benefits students directly and removes a meaningful source of disruption from an already complex transition.
For districts coordinating ESY transportation across Nassau and Suffolk County, working with a provider who already has established relationships with students and their families removes a significant source of uncertainty from the summer planning process. Our charters page covers the range of transportation services we provide across Long Island and the region.
What Families Should Do Before ESY Begins
Families whose children receive transportation as an IEP service should take several practical steps before the extended school year program begins to ensure that service is properly arranged and confirmed well ahead of the first day.
Confirm with your child’s school or district office that transportation has been requested and is included in the summer program plan. ESY transportation does not always carry over automatically from the regular school year, and families who assume service has been arranged without verifying it directly sometimes discover close to the program start date that a route has not been set up. Getting that confirmation early protects your child’s access to the program from day one.
Confirm the pickup and drop off details for the summer session. ESY programs are sometimes held at different school buildings or program sites than where the student attends during the regular year, which means routes and timing may differ from what families are accustomed to. Knowing those details before the program begins helps families prepare the student and reduces confusion on the first morning.
Communicate any changes in the student’s needs, accommodations, or medical considerations that may have occurred since the regular school year ended. If a student’s IEP has been updated or if new supports have been added, the transportation provider needs that information before the summer session begins in order to serve the student appropriately from the very first ride.
Reach out to our team through our contact page with any questions about ESY transportation or to discuss how WE Transport can support your child or your district’s summer program.
What Districts Should Know About ESY Transportation Planning
For district transportation coordinators and special education administrators across Long Island, ESY transportation planning is one of the most time-sensitive parts of the summer calendar. Routes for ESY students often need to be built or significantly modified from the regular school year because program locations, session times, and student rosters may all differ.
Starting that planning process early, communicating clearly with transportation providers about program details and student needs, and confirming that families receive accurate route information before the program begins are all essential steps in a smooth ESY transportation program. WE Transport is experienced in working with Nassau and Suffolk County districts on exactly this kind of detailed coordination, and our team is ready to support the planning process from initial route development through daily operations throughout the summer session.
WE Transport is proud to be part of the Beacon Mobility family, a network of transportation companies united by a commitment to safety, inclusion, and student-first service across Long Island and beyond. Submit your program details through our quote request page and our team will follow up to discuss how we can support your ESY transportation needs.
