Parent Surrogates

  • Become a Parent Surrogate Volunteer with Columbus City Schools

    Are you passionate about supporting students and making a difference in schools? Columbus City Schools (CCS) is seeking dedicated volunteers to serve as Parent Surrogates for PreK–12th grade students in foster care.

    Parent Surrogates are trained individuals who advocate for students during Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and Evaluation Team Report (ETR) meetings. Their role is to ensure that each child’s educational needs are being met and that decisions made within the school setting are in the best interest of the student.

    Through training provided by the Ohio Department of Education, volunteers learn:

    • The procedures for special education evaluations
    • How to support and monitor a student’s special education goals
    • Current laws, policies, and best practices in special education

    Training is offered online, making it convenient to get certified at your own pace. To learn more and begin your journey as a certified Parent Surrogate, visit: https://ohiosurrogateparent.org Currently, CCS has 45 active Parent Surrogate volunteers who respond to over 240 requests each year.  Once you’ve completed the training, please contact John Cook, School Psychologist Supervisor, at jcook1324@columbus.k12.oh.us to express your interest in volunteering with CCS.

    Volunteers have a lot of flexibility, and we can work with any schedule restrictions. We look forward to welcoming you to our team of caring advocates!

Parent Surrogate

  • Recognizing our Amazing Surrogates

    Brenda Gerhardt and Rush Rogers were recognized for their volunteerism, which has helped ensure students in foster care receive the support they need.  See the article to read about their contribution.  

    Recognizing our Parent Surrogates

  • Helping educators!

Parent Surrogate Training

  • Become a Parent Surrogate – Help Support Students with Disabilities

    The Ohio Department of Education is offering online training modules with the latest information on Ohio’s policies, procedures, and special education law. This training is designed to prepare individuals to serve as surrogate parents—a vital role that ensures students with disabilities receive the educational support they need.

    If you're interested in making a meaningful difference, visit https://ohiosurrogateparent.org to learn more and begin the certification process.

What Do Surrogate Parents Do?

  • Parent Surrogate Information Session

    View a recorded 30-minute information session to provide insight into the role of parent surrogates and how they help students in foster care.  Click the image below to watch the video.  

    Parent Surrogate Information Session