Parent

• Natural, adoptive, or foster parent

• Guardian (but not the State if child ward of the State)

• Individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom child lives, or individual legally responsible for child's welfare

• Surrogate parent

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Speaker Notes:

Section 602

Parent

This term has been amended from current law to align with the definition in federal regulations. The term means:

• "a natural, adoptive or foster parent of a child (unless a foster parent is prohibited by State law from serving as a parent);

• a guardian (but not the State is the child is a ward of the State);

• an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child's welfare; or

• an individual assigned to be a surrogate parent except as used in sections 615(b)(2) [assignment of an individual to act as a surrogate parent for a preschool or school age student] or section 639(a)(5)" [assignment of an individual to act as a surrogate parent for an infant or toddler].

The definition in IDEA mirrors the definition currently in federal regulations.