This manual has been developed to assist local California education agencies, placing agencies, and providers in the implementation of the revised requirements for the appointment of surrogate parents for special education pupils, ages 0 through 21. Also included is an explanation of state and federal mandates for parent involvement, educational entitlements, and procedural safeguards for individualized educational programs. The major considerations for making surrogate parent appointments include: (1) identification of children in need of a surrogate parent; (2) the appointment process, responsibilities and requirements of surrogate parents, and the recruitment of surrogate parents; (3) training of surrogate parents; and (4) the responsibilities and roles of agencies in this program. Briefly considered are monitoring and complaint procedures and some special situations. Much of the document consists of the following appendixes: statute code references; sample forms (e.g., notification, surrogate training parent certification, appointment/acceptance of surrogate parent); an all county letter; a listing of special education local plan areas and administrators; a listing of court appointed special advocates; and charts. (DB)