Created by the Teen Parent Program 20052006

1
Pregnant and Parenting Students Educational
Rights
Los Angeles Unified School District
Created by the Teen Parent Program 2005-2006
2
Statistics

• 34 of young women in the United States become
  pregnant at least once before they reach the age
  of 20 -- about 820,000 a year. 8 in 10 of these
  pregnancies are unintended and 81 are to
  unmarried teens.
• About 17 of teen mothers will have a second baby
  within three years of having their first baby.
• In California approximately 83 of the teens who
  gave birth in 2001 came from poor or low income
  families.
• Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high
  school than their non childbearing peers.
  Statistically, 70 of teen mothers drop out of
  high school, therefore, making pregnancy the
  primary reason young women do not complete their
  education.
• Only 30 of teen mothers complete high school and
  only 1.5 of them earned a college degree by age
  30.
• Teen fathers tend to complete less of an
  education and earn lower wages over time due to
  the early focus on employment.

Information gathered from the internet.
3
The Law

• Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972
  states,
• No personshall, on the basis of sex, be
  excluded from participation in, denied the
  benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
  under any educational program or activity
  receiving federal financial assistance.
• No student or applicant for enrollment will be
  subject to discrimination on the basis of that
  students pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy,
  termination of pregnancy and/or recovery there
  from.

4
Student Rights

• When school staff become aware of a students
  pregnancy or impending fatherhood, he/she should
  inform the student of his/her educational rights
  and available program services.
• Pregnant or parenting students have the right to
  enroll in any school or program for which they
  would otherwise qualify at any stage of the
  pregnancy.
• Pregnant or parenting students have the right to
  remain in their regular or current school
  program, and any other program for which they
  would otherwise qualify, including
• elementary or secondary schools
• honors and magnet programs
• special education and non-public school
  placements
• alternative/options programs
• migrant education
• free and reduced lunch programs
• services for English Learners

5
Student Rights (continued)

• Pregnant or parenting students have the right to
  participate in the following graduation,
  awards, ceremonies, homecoming, prom, field
  trips, student clubs, councils, after-school
  activities, and any other school-related
  programs.
• Pregnant or parenting students cannot legally be
  expelled, suspended, or otherwise excluded from,
  or required to participate in school programs
  solely on the basis of their pregnancy-related
  condition, marital or parental status.
• Pregnant or parenting students have the right to
  attend school in an environment free of
  discrimination and harassment.

6
Student Rights (continued)

• Schools must treat pregnancy and related
  conditions as they treat any other medical
  condition. Schools shall make reasonable
  adjustments to facilitate the equal access and
  full participation of pregnant and parenting
  students.
• These adjustments may include
• Additional bathroom breaks
• Increased time for passing between classes,
  nutrition, and lunch
• School-based Independent Study
• Flexible scheduling
• Use of elevators
• Time to breastfeed/lactate
• Track changes to minimize absences due to
  childbirth and recovery
• Track changes to permit use of school based
  childcare
• Classes in more accessible locations

7
Student Rights (continued)

• Pregnant or parenting students are entitled to
  participate in physical education and school
  sports on the same basis as any other student.
• When students cannot meet the requirements of the
  regular physical education curriculum, schools
  must provide students with an alternative or
  modified physical education curriculum.

8
Confidentiality

• Pregnant and parenting students have the right
  to have their health and personal information
  kept confidential.
• Information regarding their pregnancy or parental
  status should not appear in their cumulative or
  health record
• This information cannot be used when being
  considered for educational or job opportunities,
  awards or scholarships.
• Confidentiality must be kept by licensed school
  personnel such as a school nurse, social worker,
  psychologist, or licensed counselor.
• School staff shall not discuss a students
  confidential information or communications
  without the students permission.
• Possible exceptions include a reasonable
  suspicion of child abuse or a clear and present
  danger to the health or safety of the student.
  School staff are mandated reporters and
  therefore, are required to make a report to the
  Department of Children and Family Services in the
  situations denoted above.
• This child abuse reporting responsibility does
  not include notifying the students parents or
  guardian of a pregnancy or related condition.

9
Mandatory Reporting Requirements

• Consensual sexual acts or lewd and lascivious
  conduct involving a minor, where a reasonable
  suspicion of abuse does not exist, must be
  reported in the following circumstances
• The minor is under 14 years of age and the
  partner is 14 years or over or
• The minor,14 or 15 years of age and the adult, 10
  years or older, are engaged in lewd and
  lascivious conduct or
• The minor is under 16 years of age, and the
  adult, 21 years or older, are engaged in
  consensual sexual intercourse.
• A minors pregnancy in and of itself does not
  constitute child abuse. One must consider the age
  of the minor at the time of conception and the
  circumstances under which conception occurred
  (e.g. physical abuse, duress, statutory sexual
  abuse).

10
Medical Consent

• All youth have the right to consent to medical
  care which is related to pregnancy, pregnancy
  prevention, including contraceptive services, and
  other reproductive health services including
  pregnancy termination without the knowledge or
  consent of their parent or guardian.
• Written verification regarding confidential
  medical services should not be included in the
  students cumulative record and shall be kept in
  a separate confidential file.
• NOTE A recent change in federal law allows
  parents to access all documents related to their
  childs absences. Medical notes verifying
  confidential medical services may now be included
  as part of a pupils record and therefore, may be
  accessed by the parent or guardian.

11
Medical Consent (continued)

• The Education Code and District policy state that
  school authorities may excuse any pupil from
  school for the purpose of obtaining confidential
  medical services without the knowledge or consent
  of a parent or guardian.
• Schools may not require that a student obtain
  prior written parental permission in order to
  release the student for confidential medical
  services. In addition, school personnel may not
  notify a parent when the student leaves the
  campus to obtain such services.

12
Confidential Medical Services

• Treatment for STDs
• Rape Diagnosis/Treatment
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• HIV Testing
• Outpatient Mental Health Services (certain
  requirements)
• Applicable to students 12 and over

• Pregnancy-Related Services
• Pregnancy Prevention
• Prenatal Care
• Labor and Delivery
• Contraception
• Abortion
• No age limit denoted

13
Attendance Information

• Pregnant and parenting teens are subject to the
  same compulsory education laws as any other
  student.
• Excused absences may include
• medical appointments
• verified illnesses or injury
• court appearances
• medical exclusions such as immunizations, lice,
  etc.
• funerals
• When a student is the custodial parent the school
  may excuse absences related to the dependent
  child, such as illness or medical appointments.
• Students with excused absences are allowed to
  complete all assignments and tests and shall be
  given full credit upon satisfactory completion.
  There is no limit on the number of excused
  absences.

14
Extended Absences/Leaves

• A leave of absence may be taken for as long as
  deemed medically necessary.
• Students cannot be checked out or dropped due to
  medically documented absences. Schools must
  follow the protocols outlined in Bulletin 1292,
  Attendance Policy and Procedures for Elementary
  and Secondary Students.
• Schools should provide Independent Study
  opportunities for those students who are or will
  be absent for extended periods of time.
• Documentation may be required for verification of
  pregnancy, medically related conditions,
  childbirth and recovery if it is required for
  school readmission in other instances.
• Students are able to return to school with the
  same status as prior to the absence.
• LAUSD policy follows the mandates of Title IX
  and the Education Code and supersedes
  school-based policies regarding attendance and
  making up work.

15
Referrals to Berenece Carlson Home/ Hospital
School Program

• Pregnancy, in and of itself, will not warrant
  home schooling.
• Howeverthese service may be utilized for
  pregnancy or postpartum conditions which are
  complicated by a serious, disabling illness and,
  therefore, prevents a student from attending
  school or independent study. Referrals are made
  by a school nurse and require a physicians
  verification.
• All options should be fully explored in order to
  ensure that the students academic needs are
  being met and his/her rights are not being
  violated.

16

Pregnant Minor School Sites
Enrollment at one of the Districts Pregnant
Minor sites must be voluntary on the part of the
student. Pregnant and parenting teens have the
right to remain at their comprehensive school
site. The District maintains two pregnant minor
sites Riley High School and McAlister High
School.

• These sites may offer
• a smaller campus
• a shortened day
• child development classes
• nutrition health education
• childbirth education

• parenting education
• a full-time rotating nurse
• food service
• transportation assistance

17
Enrollment at Pregnant Minor Sites

• Pregnant minor school sites are primarily
  designed for secondary students. Elementary
  students may be enrolled on a case by case basis.
  A transfers to one of these sites must be
  completely voluntary on the part of the minor and
  in agreement with her parent/guardian.
• In addition to standard enrollment protocols,
  the student is required to provide a written
  confirmation of the pregnancy from a licensed
  health care provider.
• Schools must extend a reasonable effort in
  assisting a student to complete the transfer in a
  timely manner. This may include referring the
  student to the site based PSA counselor.
  Discussion should also include a plan for the
  students return to the comprehensive secondary
  program.

18
Infant Centers

• Four infant center sites are located throughout
  the District.
• These childcare programs are first made
  available to those students who are attending
  these particular schools. Additional spaces are
  then open to those students attending other
  schools within the area. Spaces are available to
  the children of teen mothers and/or teen fathers.

19
Alternative Educational Options

• Childcare continues to be an utmost concern for
  the teen parent population. Lack of care gravely
  impacts a students ability to continue his/her
  education. Financial obligations also make school
  less of a priority. Many teens discover that they
  must work in order to provide for themselves and
  their child.
• Programs such as the Alternative Educational and
  Work Center (AEWC), Educational Options Unit, or
  Community Adult Schools serve as alternative
  educational placement. These programs should be
  explored to determine their appropriateness in
  meeting the academic needs of the pregnant or
  parenting teen who is unable to return to school
  full-time. These programs offer flexibility
  through independent study programs and
  alternative class times.

20
Transfer Information

• Educational needs should be carefully considered
  prior to transferring a student. Any transfer
  requires diligence to ensure credits are not lost
  in the process.
• Students need to be informed that the pregnant
  minor schools may not offer specialized classes
  such as advanced placement, honors, or college
  preparatory classes. Other alternatives, or a
  combination of school placements, should be
  considered.
• Students must be informed of their right to
  transfer back to their school or program of
  origin. Students may participate in graduation
  and receive a diploma from their home school or
  from an alternative school placement once
  appropriate credits have been completed.

21
The Teen Parent Program

• Our current LAUSD Teen Parent Program consists
  of two Pupil Services and Attendance (PSA)
  Counselors that service the 3 Riley High School
  and the 4 McAlister High School sites.
• We also have a PSA Counselor serving the 4
  infant centers throughout the district.
• A PSA Counselor and a School Nurse are also
  based in our office to assist school and
  community personnel to address the needs of
  pregnant and parenting students district-wide.
• Our office provides resource information,
  community outreach services and advocacy on
  behalf of pregnant and parenting students.
  Training on the rights of this student population
  is a frequent and necessary component.

22
Contact Information

• Teen Parent Program
• 644 West 17th Street, Building C
• Los Angeles, California 90015
• [phone] Unit Phone
• [phone] Unit Fax
• Melissa Schoonmaker, L.C.S.W.-Pupil Services
  Attendance Coordinator
• Sonia Avalos, PSA Counselor- Early Childhood
  Education Infant Centers
• Jaime Corral, PSA Counselor - McAlister High
  School
• Rosemary Couch, PSA Counselor - Riley High School
• Sharon Schmid, School Nurse
• Wendy Tamaki Ogata, PSA Counselor