Special Education Surrogate Parents: What They Do
and Why They Matter

By Gavin Pond, Services Coordinator
The Recruitment, Training, & Support Center for Special Education Surrogate Parents

Families of children with special educational needs understand how important their input and advocacy is to their children's education. Educators and administrators face many competing demands and difficult decisions. They depend on the perspective of parents and guardians to help them support the special needs of their students. As many readers already know, that is why the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires parent/guardian participation in the creation and oversight of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student eligible to receive special education services.

But what about children with special educational needs who are in custody of the state and whose parents are unable to participate in the IEP process or make educational decisions?

In Massachusetts, those children depend on Special Education Surrogate Parents (SESPs) to protect their legal right to a free and appropriate education. SESPs are volunteers from across the state who make educational decisions for individual students. Once appointed, these volunteers have the full legal authority of a parent or legal guardian to attend Team meetings, approve or reject IEPs, and, if necessary, file a complaint or appeal.

This past summer, The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education contracted with the Federation to begin recruiting, training, and supporting SESPs. This is an exciting opportunity for us to work with a remarkable group of volunteers in order to help some of the state's most vulnerable students.

Students who qualify for SESPs face many challenges. They all must cope with both special educational needs and the lack of a parent or legal guardian to advocate for them. In addition, many move frequently between homes, between schools, and between educational programs. Some have had traumatic experiences including abuse, the death of parents and loved ones, and separation from siblings and friends. For these children, an appropriate education can be a lifeline in a challenging world, helping them develop the tools they need to grow into successful adults. SESPs can help make sure that happens, and we intend to make sure that every volunteer has the support and training they need to accomplish their goals.

Of course, the priceless feeling of helping a child in need is reason enough to volunteer as a SESP, but there are other benefits as well. Families in the special needs community often acquire a mindboggling amount of knowledge about special education laws and procedures. By becoming a SESP, they can use and build on that hard-earned experience. For professionals, volunteering as a SESP offers a unique experience to gain a parent perspective while working directly to support a child. All volunteers gain access to training and support from experienced special education professionals, and join a caring, supportive community committed to making a difference.

If you are interested in volunteering, we encourage you to email the Recruitment, Training, and Support Center for Special Education Surrogate Parents (RTSC) at rtsc@fcsn.org, call us at (617) 236-7210, or check out our Web site at www.fcsn.org/rtsc to learn more. Also, keep your eye out for articles from the RTSC in future issues of Newsline. These articles will cover a range of topics relevant to SESPs and families of children with special educational needs.