Educational Surrogate Program
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Columbia Public Schools are looking for volunteers to act as educational surrogates for special education students who do not have a parent to help them make educational choices.
State and federal laws say that these students must have educational surrogates. An educational surrogate is a neutral person chosen to make sure that the educational rights of a child with disabilities are protected.
The educational surrogate takes on the role of a parent for these students when decisions are made about their education and placement. The duties of a surrogate parent include attending meetings with school staff about the student’s programs, reviewing the child’s education records, and ensuring the child gets a suitable education.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provides training for volunteers who become educational surrogates. The most educational surrogates are needed for students who are in the legal custody of the Division of Family Services and live in a residential facility. Educational surrogates do not have to take care of the student physically or financially, and they are not responsible for any legal issues that may arise while representing the student in educational decisions.
