Since 1974, the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) has grown from a grassroots parent group to a nationally recognized organization serving more than 45,000 families and their children with special needs annually. Recognized locally and nationally as a pioneering organization that advocates for quality education, strong parent participation and access to quality health care services for all children, especially those with disabilities, our mission is to provide information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. We are committed to listening to and learning from families, and encouraging full participation in community life by all people, especially those with disabilities. 

The Recruitment, Training and Support Center (RTSC) for Special Education Surrogate Parents (SESPs) is a project of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under contract with the Federation for Children with Special Needs (Federation), a nonprofit organization. The mission of RTSC is to ensure that every child in state custody receives the educational supports they need to succeed. We strive to meet this goal by recruiting volunteers from across the state and providing them with the training and ongoing support they need to be effective SESPs.  There are approximately 900 students statewide currently supported by this project.

SESPs are community volunteers who make education decisions for individual students. Our volunteers include parents, educators, retirees, and others looking to make a difference for these vulnerable students. Once appointed these volunteers have the full legal rights and authority of a parent or legal guardian in matters of special education.   SESPs attend Team meetings, approve or reject Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and if necessary, can file a complaint or appeal. Volunteers must be over 18, have no conflict of interest, submit a CORI application, and attend an initial three hour orientation to participate in the program. All volunteers agree to work for the best interest of the student. On average an SESP only spends 20-30 hours a year volunteering their time.  These few hours can make a significant impact for a student.