While JJ was at summer camp, Maya decided it's time the family no longer use JJ's disability as an excuse to let their lives fall through the cracks. Maya, Jimmy and Dylan make dramatic changes, but a smug Ray decides he will spend the summer watching his family likely failing at their attempts. When JJ comes home, Kenneth finds a love note in JJ's luggage from Alexa (guest star Rose Crisman), a girl he met at camp, who wants to give JJ his first kiss. The family chucks their self-improvement projects and hits the road to find Alexa.
When Maya encourages the parents of the new special needs kids at Lafayette High to demand full-time aides, the school administrators tell her anything the new students get will spell losses for her beloved JJ. Meanwhile, Dylan develops a hooky habit, unprepared as she is to return to the same school for a second year; JJ pushes Kenneth toward romance with his teacher; and Jimmy endeavors to enjoy a long-awaited uninterrupted shower.
Ray gets in over his head when he makes up a fake charity to impress his girlfriend; Maya gives Jimmy tips on being the boss; and Dylan demands Kenneth get out of her space.
Jimmy takes JJ camping to give him "the talk", Maya trains a ragtag group of new aides, and sparks fly between Dylan and Ray's bully.
The DiMeo kids mistakenly eat old Halloween candy that causes feverish dreams of horror and wish fulfillment, and Kenneth agonizes over which era of Michael Jackson to dress as for Halloween.
JJ's pressured to date a new student at school who also has cerebral palsy. Maya and Jimmy teach Ray and his girlfriend to think less. Dylan teams with Lafayette alumni to rebel against the school's "no-prank" initiative.
Maya's mother, Andrea, comes for Thanksgiving, sending the family into a tailspin preparing to impress their established grandmother who they haven't seen in years. Jimmy deals with getting older and what that means for his oddly impressive digestive system. Cedric dreads spending Thanksgiving with his overbearing father, the Colonel.
JJ convinces his parents to take him on a college visit but hides an ulterior motive. As his plan unravels, JJ enlists the help of new friend Tyson, an actor who gives the performance of his life to keep JJ out of hot water. Meanwhile, Ray goes wild when he's left home alone for the first time.
Two tickets to the premiere of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" promise a glorious night for JJ and Ray... until JJ's pulled to the dark side by a pretty classmate who hopes to take Ray's ticket. Back at home, Maya, Jimmy and Dylan enjoy a rare night at home without the boys. Meanwhile, Kenneth's secret after-hours hangout at Lafayette is compromised when Dr. Miller discovers his late-night escapades.
After leveraging JJ in an attempt to land a family dog, Dylan takes a vow of silence to better understand what it is to be her brother. Ray brokers a meeting between his girlfriend's mother, Melanie, and Maya, only to realize they have a history. Jimmy drives Kenneth crazy by gaming a supermarket giveaway to score free Christmas turkeys.
Jimmy convinces Maya to go on a much-needed night out together where they drink through Maya's urge to rush home to the kids. Back at the house, Ray and Kenneth avoid being alone with their dates, while JJ, sidelined by a broken wheelchair, ends up getting more excitement than he expected. Meanwhile, Dylan spends her night trying to win the affection of the new family dog.
Maya and Jimmy get pulled into a school fundraiser where Maya makes a new friend and Jimmy discovers the benefits of being tall. Ray, tired of being the responsible sibling, explores his reckless side with JJ and Dylan; and Kenneth tries to win over a crowd with his DJ skills.
After a dust-up with Lafayette High, Maya runs to JJ's rescue and launches her own school out of the DiMeo home. Her program becomes a true DiMeo affair when Ray and Dylan enroll and Jimmy joins the faculty. Meanwhile, Kenneth sets out to prove to his ex-wife that he's living a successful life.
JJ struggles with not being treated like an adult on his 18th birthday. He storms out of his own party but soon learns a valuable lesson from Kenneth. Meanwhile, an exchange student moves in with Taylor, so Ray tries to make Taylor jealous with some of his father's old moves but the plan backfires. And Dylan is recruited to be on the school's wrestling team.
Ray is miserable after breaking up with Taylor. When Maya cheers him up with a day out, Ray has a plan of his own. Meanwhile, JJ is nervous about his first friend date with Aaron, so Dylan offers to make sure everything goes smoothly; however, it's everything but smooth. And Kenneth teaches Jimmy how to be the one in charge at home.
Maya has jury duty, which is like a vacation for her until she learns Taylor's mom, Melanie, is also there. Meanwhile, JJ lies about his disabilities on an online dating site after a few bad dates; and Ray is upset Jimmy and Dylan spend too much together.
JJ's thrilled when he is chosen by his classmates to film his horror movie project, but soon the pressure of directing gets to him. Meanwhile, Dylan's class project reveals a family secret; and Jimmy's suggestions for the neighbor's house construction project backfires for the DiMeos.
JJ travels to a film festival where he's been nominated for an award but is upset when he learns the real reason he's being honored. Jimmy stays home and struggles to protect Dylan from the truth about an impending eviction. And Ray takes an unlikely and painful route to basketball stardom in hopes of winning back Taylor.