Designed for surrogate parents, social workers, and educational personnel, the handbook establishes a framework for the Maine Surrogate Parent Program, in which individuals are appointed to act as advocates for exceptional students in the special education decision making process. The following procedures are outlined: (1) identification of exceptional students who require a surrogate parent, (2) appointment of surrogate parents, (3) training of surrogate parents, (4) rights of the surrogate parent, (5) responsibilities of the surrogate parent, (6) limits of the surrogate parent's responsibilities, (7) liability, (8) rights of the educational agency, (9) responsibilities of the educational agency, (10) rights of the state agency, (11) responsibilities of the state agency, and (12) reimbursement for expenses. Appended material includes pertinent regulations from state and federal law and sample forms. (CL)