What's Required
The local education agency (LEA), must take steps to ensure parent participation in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal/Individualized Education Program (ARD/IEP) process and have afforded the opportunity for parent participation. In the event the parent(s) of a child eligible for special education services are not known, the child is a ward of the State or the child is an unaccompanied homeless youth, the LEA must determine whether or not a surrogate parent is warranted.
The LEA must also ensure that surrogate parents are selected in accordance with 34CRF §300.519(d)(2) and comply with TEC §29.001(10) prior to representing children with disabilities in the ARD/IEP process. Once appointed, the surrogate parent is afforded all the same rights, procedural safeguards and access to educational records as the natural parent(s).
Children in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) may be appointed a surrogate parent by the overseeing judge. In this case the LEA must ensure the surrogate parent selected complies with the same regulations in accordance with 34CRF §300.519(d)(2) and TEC §29.001(10) as indicated in the previous paragraph. Children placed in foster group homes and foster care homes by TDFPS may be represented by the Foster Parent(s) if they meet the criteria and complete the required training. Children placed in residential group-care facilities by TDFPS must be appointed a surrogate parent.
Once a child turns 18 years or older, the child is legally an adult and his/her own education decision maker regardless of functioning level or type of disability. If a court determines that the individual is legally incompetent then the court appointed guardian is the legal decision maker.
What We Do
TDFPS Group Home Procedures (Completed at Time of Enrollment)
1. Obtain a copy of the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS) paperwork that the foster used to register the student. Designation of Educational Decision-Maker Child Protective Services Form is the form to determine if a surrogate has already been appointed. You will need to get this from the registrar and include this with the transfer paperwork.
If a person’s name appears on page 1, Section 2: Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, then, do not appoint the foster parent as surrogate. Simply make a copy of this page and attach it to the transfer paperwork and scan it to the District RF Tracker Diagnostician. This person IS the surrogate parent.
If no name appears in this section, you will need to proceed to with steps 2-4
2. Ask the foster parent for the date he/she received the student along with any court/CPS paperwork he/she was given. Record the date somewhere on the transfer paperwork.
3. Contact District RF tracker diagnostician (email) as these students are RF.
4. Count 60 CALENDAR days from the date of placement into the foster’s home.
IF the placement date is less than 60 calendar days from the current date then:
- Assign foster parent as a surrogate* UNTIL the 60 days are concluded.
- *See APPOINTING FOSTER PARENTS as SURROGATES PROCEDURES DOC
- Provide ’Training’ using the Powerpoint Presentation attached
- Have the surrogate complete and sign the Verification of Training form
- Attach the Verification of Training form to the transfer intake paperwork
- Note when the 60 calendars days will be completed
- After 60 calendar days are completed, fill out the Designation of Foster Parent as Parent and send that to SHARS diagnostician.
IF the placement date is GREATER OR EQUAL TO 60 CALENDAR days from the current date then:
- ’Training’ using the Powerpoint Presentation attached
- Have the surrogate complete and sign the Verification of Training form
- Attach the Verification of Training form to the transfer intake paperwork
- Complete the Designation of Foster Parent as Parent form
- Attach the Designation of Foster Parent as Parent form to the transfer intake paperwork
5. Complete the remainder of the transfer paperwork in this GOLD section and send it to the PEIMS clerk.
NOTE: Do not use the Designation of Signature Form for these students.
|
|
