Become a Special Education Decision-Maker for a Child/Youth in State Custody

Please note: This opportunity is for Massachusetts residents only. All others should visit your state education website for local opportunities.

Are you interested in being a Special Education Decision-Maker for students in your community? Volunteers, known as Special Education Surrogate Parents (SESPs), are appointed educational decision-makers for students in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) who require special education services.

In this Orientation Training, you will learn about the role of a SESP, how traumatic experiences can impact learning, and how to incorporate the appropriate supports into the IEP. To register, hit "Sign Up" above or go to https://fcsn.org/event/special-education-surrogate-parent-orientation-training-10-14-25/ . For more information, please reach out at rtsc@fcsn.org

Once appointed, SESP volunteers have the legal authority of a parent or legal guardian to attend special education team meetings, approve or reject IEPs, and, if necessary, file a complaint or appeal. On average an SESP spends about 30-40 hours a year volunteering their time.

Upon registration, please use the following link to complete the SESP application in advance to expedite the process: https://fcsn.org/sesp-online-application/

For more information here is our brochure: https://fcsn.org/rtsc-updated-brochure/