As the end of the school year sneaks up, it feels like everyone is suddenly in full end-of-year scramble to make sure nothing important gets left behind. If you’re feeling a little stressed about getting your child’s IEP finalized, signed, and truly buttoned up before summer break, or you’re navigating a tricky transition to a new school next year, you’re definitely not alone.
Before we fully slip into summer mode with the kiddos, we’re tackling 5 big must-dos before the end of school — and we’re taking you along for the ride.
1. Lock in ESY. Even if the rest of the IEP isn’t finalized before summer, try to get the extended school year (ESY) portion signed so those time-sensitive services are in place before everyone switches into summer mode.
2. Start next year’s transition plan early. If your child is heading into a new school next year, now is the time to start laying the groundwork for scheduling, services, and support needs in that transition IEP.
3. Keep essential school devices in mind. Before you turn anything in, remember that your child has the right to keep assistive technology and devices like iPads, AAC devices, or hearing aids over the summer to ensure they continue learning, especially if they need them for ESY.
4. Ask about compensatory education. Did you know that comp ed isn’t just “make-up time?” It’s actually additional support a child may be entitled to if they didn’t receive appropriate services, and now’s the time to see if your child qualifies.
5. Slow down and read the IEP (a lot!) before you sign. Even if there’s pressure to wrap things up before summer, don’t feel rushed into signing the IEP. Take your time reviewing it, plug it into Undivided’s IEP Assistant, and address anything that feels off.
There’s a lot more parents may need to know before the school year ends — like what happens if your child’s 60-day IEP assessment timeline runs into summer break, or whether you can request an IEP meeting over the summer. Read the full article for tips on how to discuss all of these questions and more with your IEP team→
Dive deeper
- If I don’t sign the IEP and it goes into “stay put,” what does that mean for my child’s services?
- What is a summary of performance (SOP), and does my child need one before exiting special education?
Undivided Conversations
- End of Year Wrap-Up → Streaming on Facebook and YouTube on Saturday, May 15, 10:00 a.m. PT. If you’re more of an audio-visual learner and want to sit back with some coffee and listen to a good conversation, tune in with Special Education Advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka as she helps us tie up any loose ends and concerns we may have in our kids’ education as the school year comes to a close.
FREE live Q&A: California Legislative and Budget Updates — May 2026
Thursday, May 21, 12:00 p.m. PT
As Medicaid and special education change at the federal level, we’re seeing the impact on California systems that our families rely on. Join us for a FREE webinar with Aaron Carruthers, Executive Director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, to hear about how the state’s proposed 2026-27 budget will affect services for individuals with disabilities and how we can advocate for what our kids need. Register for free here→
Office hours: Special education and IEPs
Wednesday, May 20, 12:00 p.m. PT
If you have questions about your child’s accommodations, services, goals, or anything else in their IEP, join us for office hours with Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey. During office hours, you can ask your question in our members-only Zoom session and get answers right away. If you’re not a member, sign up here to participate→
This week in our private group for parents: AAC support, local events, tutoring recommendations, and more! Join the discussion on Facebook→
What’s the difference between make-up service hours and comp ed, and how do you know what to ask for? Hear from Dr. Sarah Pelangka on our YouTube channel→
How do you advocate for inclusive ESY with your school team? Check out our Instagram for ideas of what to say→
Help us share these end-of-year IEP tips with families and providers! Share Undivided resources on LinkedIn→
