DE SB86

Authorizes Family Court to appoint an education decision maker for abused, dependent, neglected, delinquent children, and children in custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families.

Court may appoint an education decision maker if the child has no parent or guardian, a parent or guardian voluntarily consents, or it is in the child's best interests to limit parental education decision-making authority.

Education decision maker must address educational stability, school discipline, transition planning for independent living, and education services needed to meet state standards, unless the child qualifies for special education services.

Education decision maker can be a relative, adult known to the child, the child's attorney, or Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, but cannot be the child's defense attorney in delinquency cases.

Does not replace the educational surrogate parent program for special education; court may appoint an education decision maker to handle non-special education matters when a surrogate parent already exists.