Surrogate Parent

When a Surrogate Parent is Needed:

 

A student needs a surrogate parent when it is determined that no one is available to represent the rights of the student with an educational disability. 

 

A student may be considered in need of a surrogate under the following conditions:

 

·         No biological or adoptive parent.

·         No legally appointed guardian.

·         A guardian ad litum (a person appointed by the court to represent the interest of a child usually temporarily and prior to the appointment of a legal guardian) is usually not involved in educational issues.  A county social worker

who is appointed a guardian ad litum cannot sign special education due process documents.

·         No blood relative or private individual allowed to act as a parent by the student’s parents or guardian.  A

foster parent or group home parent can be considered a surrogate parent by the school district if the foster parent agrees to do so and the Child Study Team is comfortable with the knowledge the foster parents have of the student and the special education process.

 

The school social worker should be informed when a student may be in need of a surrogate parent to arrange for the appointment of a surrogate parent.