Some students with disabilities may attend educational programs

outside their district of residence (that is, where parent or guardian lives) because those districts contract for services from another district, special education cooperative, or other public or private facility to furnish the required educational programs.

Other children live outside their parent's or guardian's district of residence because they have been temporarily placed there as a result of court action or by an agency or parent decision. For example, a student with an emotional or behavioral disorder may be placed in a residential treatment center or therapeutic foster home. Local school districts are held accountable for providing educational services for students residing at state hospitals and in most residential treatment centers or group homes within their district boundaries.

Surrogate parents need to spend some time becoming familiar with the organization and personnel of the child's school district or special education cooperative.