DMSELPA Policies and Procedures

court order in accordance with Section 300.30(b)(1) or (2) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (3) A guardian generally authorized to act as the child’s parent, or authorized to make educational decisions for the child, including a responsible adult appointed for the child in accordance with Sections 361 and 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (4) An individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent, including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative, with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare. (5) A surrogate parent who has been appointed pursuant to Section 7579.5 or 7579.6 of the Government Code, and in accordance with Section 300.519 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and Section 1439(a)(5) of Title 20 of the United States Code. (b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the biological or adoptive parent, when attempting to act as the parent under this part and when more than one party is qualified under subdivision (a) to act as a parent, shall be presumed to be the parent for purposes of this section unless the biological or adoptive parent does not have legal authority to make educational decisions for the child. (2) If a judicial decree or order identifies a specific person or persons under paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a) to act as the “parent” of a child or to make educational decisions on behalf of a child, then that person or persons shall be determined to be the “parent” for purposes of this part, Article 1 (commencing with Section 48200) of Chapter 2 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2, and Chapter 26.5 (commencing with Section 7570) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, and Sections 361 and 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (c) “Parent” does not include the state or any political subdivision of government. (d) “Parent” does not include a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency under contract with a local educational agency for the provision of special education or designated instruction and services for a child.

Surrogate Parents Federal Regulation, 34 C.F.R. 300.519, and California Education Code section 56050, mandate the appointment of a surrogate parent to ensure the educational rights of a child with exceptional need s when 1) no parent can be identified, 2) after reasonable efforts, the parents’ whereabouts cannot be determined, 3) the child is a ward of the court and that court has limited the rights of the parents or guardian to make educational decisions regarding the child, or 4) the child is an unaccompanied homeless youth. The surrogate parent shall act as the child’s parent and have all rights as delineated in federal and state law.

Chapter 7 – Procedural Safeguards, Desert/Mountain SELPA

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As of 03/15/2013

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