Public Laws 94-142 and 99-457 mandate the provision of surrogate parents to represent parentless disabled children in acquiring educational services. Described are the rights and responsibilities of surrogate parents, their role in case conferences and in development of individualized education programs, and the activities of the Indiana Surrogate…

This article discusses the newly enacted Public Law 99-457, which mandates preschool special education, in the historical context of the implementation of Public Law 94-142. Provisions of the new law are summarized, and a variety of issues (such as interagency coordination) that the field needs to address are discussed. (Author/DB)

The article compares Part B of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) of 1975 with Part H and argues that the similar meanings of "appropriate educational services" and "least restrictive environment" under both parts support efforts to integrate infants and toddlers with disabilities. (Author/DB)