IDEA authorizes parents to make decisions related to the provision of special education services. Whenever the parents of an eligible or thought to be eligible student are not known, cannot be located after reasonable efforts, or when the child is a ward of the state, a surrogate parent must be appointed. The federal requirements related to the appointment of a surrogate parent for IDEA eligible or thought to be eligible students are specified in CFR 3330.519.

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Define legal terminology pertaining to IDEA and surrogate parent requirements and have an understanding of the requirement.
• Participants will be able to identify the qualifications needed, as well as the role responsibilities of a surrogate parent.
• Participants will be able to establish and implement a process at their LEA to identify, train, and assign surrogate parents.

Target Audience

Principals, Special Education Administrators, Social Workers, Guidance Counselors, Special Education Teachers IEP team coordinators, Community Partners (OCY Caseworkers, Mental Health Case managers)and parents.

Topics Covered: Chapter 14/IDEA, Interagency, Leadership