Agency Details:

Special Education Surrogate Parent Program

The Special Education Surrogate Parent Program (SESPP)is a statewide program mandated in federal law to uphold the special education rights of children ages 3-22 who are in the custody of the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF). The SESP Program recruits, trains and appoints volunteers to act as the educational decision maker/surrogate for these students.

Description:
Children who are receiving special education services need a committed adult to ensure access to a free and appropriate public education. SESP volunteers are integral members of the special education team. They collaborate with DCF, school and community partners to ensure that these students receive the special educational services vital for a successful future. SESP volunteers provide a strong voice of advocacy for children and make a significant difference in the life of a child.

History:
The SESP Program is a collaborative effort of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Children and Families, other state agencies, and local school districts. The SESP Program has been operated by the EDCO Collaborative, Inc. since 1994.

Contact person: Deanna Forist, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (508) 616-0318

Address:

P.O. Box 1184 Westborough, MA 01581

Web Site: http://www.sespprogram.org

Last updated on June 19, 2009