As Philadelphia and the country prepare to celebrate 250 years of history, innovation, and community, HMS School reflects a legacy spanning 144 years of special education services in West Philadelphia.
For more than a century, HMS has supported children with complex medical needs through specialized education, speech, occupational, and physical therapies, health services, and individualized learning programs. Long before inclusive education and modern therapeutic services were widely available, HMS was a place where children and families found access, dignity, and support.
That legacy continues today through the HMS School’s Extended School Year (ESY) program in Philadelphia.
Running from June 25th through July 31st, the ESY program helps students maintain and strengthen their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals during the summer months. Students participate in special education instruction, therapies, and nursing support within a structured, camp-like environment designed to support both learning and engagement.
The ESY program at HMS is open to eligible students, including those not currently enrolled during the academic year. Funding, as in the regular academic year, is provided through participating school districts for qualifying students receiving special education services.
For students, ESY provides continuity. Skills practiced throughout the school year are reinforced, so progress is strengthened over the summer. Students continue building communication, mobility, independence, and participation skills in ways that are meaningful and individualized.
As Philadelphia and the nation mark 250 years since its founding, HMS is reminded that its story is part of the city’s broader history of education, access, and inclusion. Philadelphia has long been a place where education and access have continued to evolve, from some of the earliest public-school systems and hospitals in the country to pioneering efforts in specialized education and support for children with disabilities.
The evolution of Philadelphia’s special education reflects a continued commitment to expanding opportunities for all learners. While the city’s history provides the foundation, HMS continues to build on that legacy by providing high-quality care and education today. It is the community of care, learning, and support at HMS, shaped by students, families, and staff, that continues to shape what comes next.
The Extended School Year program is one example of how HMS continues to build on a 144-year legacy of care, education, and support for children with complex medical needs in Philadelphia.
