There are occasions when a school must identify a surrogate parent for a student. A surrogate parent is a person appointed to represent the interests of a child with a disability in the educational decision-making process when that child/youth has no other parent representation.
The surrogate has all of the rights and responsibilities of a parent. Thus, the surrogate parent is entitled to
- participate in the child’s IEP or IFSP meeting,
- see the child’s education records, and
- receive notice, grant consent, and use due process to resolve differences.
Your local ISD/RESA should be able to provide information specific to your district. Michigan Department of Education has guidance available:
- Appointment of Surrogate Parents for Special Education and Early Intervention Services
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Understanding the Requirements for Appointing a Surrogate Parent Video
More resources:
