RCSD Board Policy: Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
The Board of Education recognizes that responsibilities related to marriage, pregnancy, or parenting and related responsibilities may disrupt a student's education and increase the chance of a student dropping out of school. The Board therefore desires to support married, pregnant, and parenting students to continue their education, attain strong academic and parenting skills, and promote the healthy development of their children.
(cf. 5113.1 - Chronic Absence and Truancy)
(cf. 5147 - Dropout Prevention)
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6164.5 - Student Success Teams)
The district shall not exclude or deny any student from any educational program or activity, including any class or extracurricular activity, solely on the basis of the student's pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery. In addition, the district shall not adopt any rule concerning a student's actual or potential parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently on the basis of sex. (Education Code 221.51, 230; 5 CCR 4950; 34 CFR 106.40)
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
The Superintendent or designee shall annually notify parents/guardians at the beginning of the school year of the rights and options available to pregnant and parenting students under the law. In addition, pregnant and parenting students shall be notified of the rights and options available to them under the law through annual school year welcome packets and through independent study packets. (Education Code 222.5, 48980)
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
For school-related purposes, a student under the age of 18 years who enters into a valid marriage shall have all the rights and privileges of students who are 18 years old, even if the marriage has been dissolved. (Family Code 7002)
Education and Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Students
Pregnant and parenting students shall retain the right to participate in the regular education program or an alternative education program. The classroom setting shall be the preferred instructional strategy unless an alternative is necessary to meet the needs of the student and/or the student's child.
(cf. 6158 - Independent Study)
(cf. 6181 - Alternative Schools/Programs of Choice)
(cf. 6184 - Continuation Education)
(cf. 6200 - Adult Education
Any alternative education program, activity, or course that is offered separately to pregnant or parenting 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. (Education Code 221.51; 5 CCR 4950)
If required for students with any other temporary disabling condition, the Superintendent or designee may require a student, based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery, to obtain certification from a physician or nurse practitioner indicating that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue participation in the regular education program or activity. (Education Code 221.51; 5 CCR 4950; 34 CFR 106.40)
(cf. 6142.7 - Physical Education and Activity)
(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
(cf. 6183 - Home and Hospital Instruction)
To the extent feasible, the district shall provide educational and related support services, either directly 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 246.1-246.28
4. Health care services, including prenatal care
5. Tobacco, alcohol, and/or drug prevention and intervention services
6. Academic and personal counseling
7. Supplemental instruction to assist students in achieving grade-level academic standards and progressing toward graduation
As appropriate, teachers, administrators, and/or other personnel who work with pregnant and parenting students shall receive related professional development.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
Absences
Pregnant or parenting students may be excused for absences medical appointments and other purposes specified in BP/AR 5113 - Absences and Excuses.
A student shall be excused for absences to care for a sick child for whom the student is the custodial parent. A note from a physician shall not be required for such an absence. (Education Code 48205)
(cf. 5113 - Absences and Excuses)
Parental Leave
A pregnant or parenting student shall be entitled to eight weeks of parental leave in order to protect the health of the student who gives or expects to give birth and the infant, and to allow the pregnant or parenting student to care for and bond with the infant. Such leave may be taken before the birth of the student's infant if there is a medical necessity and after childbirth during the school year in which the birth takes place, inclusive of any mandatory summer instruction. The Superintendent or designee may grant parental leave beyond eight weeks if deemed medically necessary by the student's physician. (Education Code 46015; 34 CFR 106.40)
The student, if age 18 years or older, or the student's parent/guardian shall notify the school of the student's intent to take parental leave. No student shall be required to take all or part of the parental leave. (Education Code 46015)
When a student takes parental leave, the attendance supervisor shall ensure that absences from the regular school program are excused until the student is able to return to the regular school program or an alternative education program. A pregnant or parenting student shall not be required to complete academic work or other school requirements during the period of the parental leave. (Education Code 46015)
(cf. 5113.11 - Attendance Supervision)
Following the leave, a pregnant or parenting student may elect to return to the school and the course of study in which the student was enrolled before taking parental leave or to an alternative education option provided by the district. Upon return to school, a pregnant or parenting student shall have opportunities to make up work missed during the leave, including, but not limited to, makeup work plans and reenrollment in courses. (Education Code 46015)
When necessary to complete high school graduation requirements, the student may remain enrolled in school for a fifth year of instruction, unless the Superintendent or designee makes a finding that the student is reasonably able to complete district graduation requirements in time to graduate by the end of the fourth year of high school. (Education Code 46015)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6146.11 - Alternative Credits Toward Graduation)
(cf. 6146.2 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)
Accommodations
When necessary, the district shall provide accommodations to enable a pregnant or parenting student 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)
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 alleging discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or marital or parental status, district noncompliance with the requirements of Education Code 46015, or district noncompliance with the requirement to provide reasonable accommodations for lactating students shall be addressed through the district's uniform complaint procedures in accordance with 5 CCR 4600-4670 and BP/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 CDE finds merit in an appeal, the district shall provide a remedy to the affected student. (Education Code 222, 46015; 5 CCR 4600 4670)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
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 student participation in district programs and services, academic achievement, school attendance, graduation rate, and/or student feedback on district programs and services.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
221.51 Nondiscrimination; married, pregnant, and parenting students
222 Reasonable accommodations; lactating students
222.5 Pregnant and parenting students, notification of rights
230 Sex discrimination
8200-8498 Child Care and Development Services Act
46015 Parental leave
48205 Excused absences
48206.3 Temporary disability, definition
48220 Compulsory education requirement
48410 Persons exempted from continuation classes
48980 Parental notifications
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- 4670 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
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA WOMEN'S LAW CENTER PUBLICATIONS
Pregnant Students and Confidential Medical Services, 2013
Educational Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Teens: Title IX and California State Law Requirements, 2012
The Civil Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Teens in California Schools, 2002
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, rev. June 2013
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
California Women's Law Center: http://www.cwlc.org
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Women, Infants, and Children Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Policy REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 13, 2010 Redwood City, California
revised: November 6, 2019
The Superintendent or designee may grant a student a leave of absence due to pregnancy, childbirth or abortion for as long as the leave is deemed medically necessary. At the conclusion of the leave, the student shall be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began. (34 CFR 106.40)
(cf. 5112.3 - Student Leave of Absence)
A pregnant or parenting student also may request exemption from attendance because of a physical or mental condition or because of personal services that must be rendered to a dependent. (Education Code 48410)
(cf. 5112.1 - Exemptions from Attendance)
Cal-SAFE Program
A male or female student shall be eligible to enroll in the district's California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) program if he/she: (Education Code 54747, 56026)
1. Is an expectant parent, custodial parent, or noncustodial parent taking an active role in the care and supervision of the child
2. Has not earned a high school diploma or its equivalent
3. Meets one of the following additional conditions:
a. Is age 18 years of age or younger.
b. Is age 19 and has been continuously enrolled in the program since before his/her 19th birthday. Such a student may be enrolled in the program for one additional semester.
c. The student is below age 22 and has an active individualized education plan.
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
Students shall be enrolled in the program on an open-entry and open-exit basis. (Education Code 54745)
A student shall not be denied initial or continuous enrollment because of having had multiple pregnancies, more than one child, or a change in eligibility status from expectant to parenting. (Education Code 54747)
No fees shall be charged to students or their families for services provided through the district's Cal-SAFE program. (Education Code 54745)
(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)
The Superintendent or designee shall complete an intake procedure regarding each student upon entry into the program, and periodically thereafter as necessary, to determine appropriate levels and types of services to be provided. (Education Code 54746)
The Superintendent or designee shall provide staff development and conduct community outreach in order to establish a positive learning environment and supportive school policies. (Education Code 54745)
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
The Superintendent or designee shall participate in the development of the county service coordination plan for providing educational and related support services to expectant and parenting teens and their children. He/she also shall participate in data collection and evaluation of the program. (Education Code 54744, 54745)
(cf. 5148.1 - Child Care Services for Parenting Students)
(cf. 6190 - Evaluation of the Instructional Program)
(cf. 9000 - Role of the Board)
Regulation REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: January 13, 2010 Redwood City, California