What Is a Surrogate Parent?

A surrogate parent is a person who is appointed to act in the interests of a student who does not have a parent who can make educational decisions. The surrogate parent works with the school to plan the child’s special education services. A surrogate parent does not take care of the child at home, like an adoptive parent or a foster parent does. A surrogate parent is not financially responsible for the child. A surrogate parent is more like a “school parent”—involved only in planning and making decisions about the child’s special education needs.

What Is Special Education?

Special education includes the specially designed instruction, materials, services, and supports provided to a student who has special learning needs to help the student make progress in school. Students who are eligible for these services are often referred to as students with disabilities or exceptional students. Special education services and supports are provided through an Individualized Education Program, also referred to as an IEP.

Why would a Child need a Surrogate Parent?

Federal law, the IDEA and Georgia Rules mandate a surrogate parent be appointed to fulfill the role of parent in the IEP process if a parent is not able to complete this task. Surrogate parents help our community meet the needs of exceptional students and fulfill our legal obligations.

There are many important decisions to be made about the education of students with disabilities. It takes a team of people to make these decisions and to plan for the child’s special education services and supports. In fact, there are several steps in the process where a parent’s participation or consent is vital and is even required by law. So, if the child’s own parent is unknown or cannot be located, or if the child is a ward of the State, the child must have a surrogate parent.

The student may be a girl or a boy, anywhere from 3 to 21 years old. The student may have a learning disability, a physical impairment, a vision or hearing impairment, or other special learning needs, such as giftedness. The student may live in a group foster home, a juvenile justice facility, or another setting. Though each of these students is unique, they all need a surrogate parent to work with the school to meet their educational needs.

What Does a Surrogate Parent Do?

You may wonder what you would actually do as a surrogate parent. A surrogate parent does all the things that a parent would do as part of the IEP process, such as:

• Becoming familiar with the child’s abilities, disabilities, needs, services, and goals (This may include observing and talking with the child in school, gathering information from written records, and talking with teachers.)

• Going to meetings and helping the IEP team plan and make decisions about the child’s education

• Signing papers giving consent for special education services and supports

• Asking the school to make changes to the child’s special education services and supports

• Attending training sessions

Remember, a surrogate parent does not take care of the child or support the child financially.

Do I Need to Be an Expert?

You do not need to be an expert on education. The keys to being an effective surrogate parent are:

• Caring and wanting to do a good job

• Focusing on the child’s needs, abilities, and goals

• Being willing to be part of a team

• Being willing to gather information from written records and from teachers and other people who work with the child

• Listening and asking questions

• Making positive suggestions

• Being flexible and trying to find ways to reach a goal or solve a problem

How Much Time Will It Take?

It is hard to predict how much time you might spend on surrogate parent duties. For example, some school meetings are short; however, meetings can get complicated if team members disagree about important issues. It is important to know that there are many people in the school and the school district who will be available to help you become an effective surrogate parent.

How Can I Join the Team?

Surrogate parents must:

• Be a citizen of the United States

• Be a resident of the state of Georgia

• Be at least 18 years old

• Not work for the local school district or any agency involved in the education or care of the child (including DFCS and DJJ)

• Have no interest that conflicts with the interest of the child

• Be willing to participate in training

If you meet these requirements and want to become a surrogate parent, contact your local school district and ask for the special education department. The district will assist you in the process of applying to become a surrogate parent. The school district will require a complete background check on all surrogate parent applicants.

(Flyer adapted from materials created by the Florida Department of Education Bureau)