5134

Students

Married/Pregnant Students

Married students shall have the same educational opportunities as unmarried students, and the Board of Education's responsibility for the education of all school-age children includes pregnant students whether married or unmarried who shall be allowed to remain in school and provided appropriate support services as a part of the school program. School administrators shall provide assistance and support to encourage pregnant and parenting students to remain enrolled in school and graduate.

Alternate language:

The ____________ Board of Education will provide all pregnant and parenting students with the same educational instruction or its equivalent as other students. Pregnant and parenting students shall not be discriminated against or excluded from school or any program, class, or extracurricular activity because they are pregnant or parenting students.

The school system may provide programs to meet the special scheduling and curriculum needs of pregnant and parenting students. Student participation in these programs shall be voluntary, and the instruction and curriculum must be comparable to that provided to other students.

A pregnant girl may remain in her regular school program as long as her physical and emotional condition permits.  Any variation from a pregnant student's continuance in regular classes shall be based upon her specific needs.  In addition, per state regulations, pregnant students must be identified as eligible for special education.  Homebound and hospitalized instruction shall be provided only when the Planning and Placement Team finds that it is in the best interest of the student.

Homework and make-up work shall be made available to pregnant and parenting students to ensure that they have the opportunity to keep current with assignments and avoid losing course credit because of their absence from school, and to the extent necessary, as described above, a homebound teacher will be assigned.

Pregnant and parenting students shall be given excused absences from school for pregnancy and related conditions for the length of time the student's physician finds medically necessary. This includes absences due to illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child for whom the student is the custodial parent.

A student who is under age 16 and a mother may request permission from the Board to attend adult education class in lieu of the regular school program.

Optional language to consider:

The Board is committed to providing to expectant and parenting students and their children a comprehensive, continuous, community-linked program that reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community. (or: The Board assumes responsibility for providing continuing educational opportunities for pregnant and parenting students.)

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall collaborate with other community agencies and organizations to ensure that appropriate educational and related support services are available to meet the needs of expectant and parenting students and their children.

In addition to providing a quality education program for expectant and parenting students, the District's program shall provide parenting education and life skills instruction.

(cf. 6173 - Homebound Instruction)

(cf. 6200 - Adult Continuing Education)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-184 Duties of parents.

10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school attendance.

State Board of Education Regulations

10-76a-35 Educationally exceptional children.

10-76d-15 Homebound and hospitalized instruction (subsection b4).

10-76d(e)(2) Duties and powers of boards of education to provide special education programs and services.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§1681-1688.

Policy adopted: