Both state and federal law recognize a foster parent’s right to act in place of a parent in the IEP process if the parent’s educational rights have been terminated.^[1] In addition, California law makes it clear that a foster parent must be given preference (after a relative caretaker and before a court-appointed special advocate (CASA)) when a district appoints a surrogate parent.^[2] See Chapter 9, Information on Inter-Agency Services (AB 3632).

1. 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.30(a)(2) & (b); Cal. Ed. Code Sec. 56028(a)(2).[↩]
2. Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 7579.5(c).[↩]