5146 BP - Pregnant/Parenting Students

Students
Board Policy No. 5146
Policy Adopted: May 19, 2016

PREGNANT/PARENTING STUDENTS

The Governing Board recognizes that early marriage, pregnancy, or parenting may disrupt students’ education and increase the chance of a student dropping out of school.  The Board therefore desires to provide instruction and services designed to assist in pregnancy prevention.  The Board also desires to support pregnant and parenting students to continue their education, attain strong academic and parenting skills and to promote the healthy development of their children.

The district shall not discriminate against any student on the basis of the student’s marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery.  (Education Code 230; 34 CFR 106.40

(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedure)

For school-related purposes, a married student under the age of 18 years shall have all the rights and privileges of students who are 18 years old, even if the marriage has been dissolved. (Family Code 7002)

The Superintendent or designee shall periodically report to the Board regarding the effectiveness of district strategies to support married, pregnant, and parenting students, which may include data on participation rates in district programs and services, academic achievement, school attendance, graduation rate, and/or student feedback on district programs and services.

Pregnant and parenting students shall retain the right to participate in any comprehensive school or educational alternative program. The classroom setting shall be the preferred instructional strategy unless an alternative is necessary to meet the needs of the student and/or his/her child.

Any education program or activity that is offered separately to pregnant students, including any class or extracurricular activity, shall be equal to that offered to other district students.  A student’s participation in such programs shall be voluntary.  (5CCR 4950).

As required for other students with physical or emotional conditions or temporary disabilities, the Superintendent or designee may require a students, based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery, to obtain certification from a physician indicating that the student is physically and emotionally able to participate in an educational program or activity.  (34 CFR 106.40).

To the extent feasible, educational and related support services shall be provided, either through the district or in collaboration with community agencies and organizations, to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting students and their children. Such services may include, but are not limited to:

1.         Child care and development services for the children of parenting students on or near school site(s) during the school day and during school-sponsored activities

2.         Parenting education and life skills instruction

3.        Special school nutrition supplements for pregnant and lactating students pursuant to Education Code 49553, 42 USC 1786, and 7 CFR 246.1-246.2

 (cf. 3550 - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program)

4.         Health care services, including prenatal care

5.         Tobacco, alcohol, and/or drug prevention and intervention services

(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)

(cf. 5131.62 - Tobacco)

6.         Academic and personal counseling

7.         Supplemental instruction to assist students in achieving grade-level academic standards and progressing toward graduation

8.     As appropriate, teachers, administrators, and/or other personnel who work with pregnant and parenting students shall receive related professional development.

Absences

Pregnant or parenting students may be excused for absences related to confidential medical appointments in accordance with BP/AR 5113 - Absences and Excuses.

(cf. 5113 - Absences and Excuses)

The Superintendent or designee shall grant a student a leave of absence due to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and related recovery for as long as it is deemed medically necessary by her physician. At the conclusion of the leave, the student shall be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began. (34 CFR 106.40)

A pregnant or parenting student also may request exemption from attendance because of personal services that must be rendered to a dependent. (Education Code 48410)

Reasonable Accommodations

When necessary, the district shall provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and parenting students to enable them to access the educational program.

A pregnant student shall have access to any services available to other students with temporary disabilities or medical conditions. (34 CFR 106.40)

(cf. 6183 - Home and Hospital Instruction)

The school shall provide reasonable accommodations to any lactating student to express breast milk, breastfeed an infant child, or address other needs related to breastfeeding. A student shall not incur an academic penalty for using any of these reasonable accommodations, and shall be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to: (Education Code 222)

1.         Access to a private and secure room, other than a restroom, to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child

2.         Permission to bring onto a school campus a breast pump and any other equipment used to express breast milk

3.         Access to a power source for a breast pump or any other equipment used to express breast milk

4.         Access to a place to store expressed breast milk safely

5.       A reasonable amount of time to accommodate the student's need to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child

Complaints

Any complaint of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or marital or parental status shall be addressed through the district's uniform complaint procedures in accordance with 5 CCR 4600-4687 and BP/AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.

(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)

Any complaint alleging district noncompliance with the requirements to provide reasonable accommodations for lactating students also may be filed in accordance with the district's procedures in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. A complainant who is not satisfied with the district's decision may appeal the decision to the California Department of Education (CDE). If the district or the CDE finds merit in an appeal, the district shall provide a remedy to the affected student. (Education Code 222; 5 CCR 4600-4687)

Program Evaluation

The Superintendent or designee shall periodically report to the Board regarding the effectiveness of district strategies to support married, pregnant, and parenting students, which may include data on participation rates in district programs and services, academic achievement, school attendance, graduation rate, and/or student feedback on district programs and services.

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

222 Reasonable accommodations; lactating students

230 Sex discrimination

8200-8498 Child Care and Development Services Act

48205 Excused absences

48220 Compulsory education requirement

48410 Persons exempted from continuation classes

49553 Nutrition supplements for pregnant/lactating students

51220.5 Parenting skills and education

51745 Independent study

52610.5 Enrollment of pregnant and parenting students in adult education

CIVIL CODE

51 Unruh Civil Rights Act

FAMILY CODE

7002 Description of emancipated minor

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

104460 Tobacco prevention services for pregnant and parenting students

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

4600-4687 Uniform complaint procedures

4950 Nondiscrimination, marital and parental status

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 22

101151-101239.2 General licensing requirements for child care centers

101351-101439.1 Infant care centers

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20

1681-1688 Title IX, Education Act Amendments

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42

1786 Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 7

246.1-246.28 Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34

106.40 Marital or parental status

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS

87 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 168 (2004)

COURT DECISIONS

American Academy of Pediatrics et al v. Lungren et al (1997) 16 Cal.4th 307

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