Requesting & Supporting Educational Surrogate Parents

Name: Requesting & Supporting Educational Surrogate Parents
Start: 2026-05-13
Location: NH Dept of Education, 25 Hall St

May

Date

13 May (Wednesday)

Time

Wed, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Venue

NH Dept of Education, 25 Hall St

Concord, NH, United States

Update Event Information

📝 Useful Information

The Requesting & Supporting Educational Surrogate Parents event is a specialized training session scheduled to take place in Concord, NH on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, starting at 10:30 AM.

Organized by the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED), this session is part of the state's initiative to certify volunteer Educational Surrogate Parents (ESPs) who act as educational decision-makers for children with disabilities when their parents are unavailable.

To become a certified Educational Surrogate Parent in New Hampshire, volunteers must meet several criteria and fulfill specific responsibilities:

Would you like more information on the application process or details on how to request a surrogate for a specific student?

Event Details

Program Requirements & Support

•Event Name: Requesting & Supporting Educational Surrogate Parents

•Date & Time: May 13, 2026, at 10:30 AM

•Location: NH Department of Education, 25 Hall Street, Concord, NH 03301

•Type: Professional training and certification

•Description: This session covers the legal and procedural aspects of requesting an educational surrogate parent for students in state custody (DCYF) and provides support strategies for current volunteers. Certification requires attending the full-day training and passing an assessment with at least an 80% score.

•Cost/Tickets: Tickets are typically available through Eventbrite.

•Website: NH Department of Education - ESP Program

•Volunteer Requirements:

•Must be at least 21 years of age.

•Completion of an application, background check (including fingerprinting), and submission of three personal references.

•No conflict of interest with the school district or the student.

•Core Responsibilities:

•Become familiar with the student's educational history and needs.

•Attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings as the legal decision-maker.

•Approve or reject IEPs and, if necessary, initiate appeal procedures to ensure the child receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

•Support for Volunteers: NHED provides ongoing support, including access to Master Educational Surrogate Parents for phone or email assistance and specialized resources for navigating complex cases.

Updated at 23 Mar 2026