Board Policy on Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students (BP 5146)

This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.

The Governing Board recognizes that early 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. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)

(cf. 6146.11 - Alternative Credits Toward Graduation)

(cf. 6146.2 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)

(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 or 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 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.

(cf. 6158 - Independent Study)

(cf. 6181 - Alternative Schools/Programs of Choice)

(cf. 6184 - Continuation Education)

(cf. 6200 - Adult Education)

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. (5 CCR 4950)

(cf. 6142.7 - Physical Education and Activity)

(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)

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 an educational 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, 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

(cf. 1020 - Youth Services)

(cf. 5148 - Child Care and Development)

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

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

(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)

4.  Health care services, including prenatal care

(cf. 5141.6 - School Health Services)

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

(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)

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

(cf. 6179 - Supplemental Instruction)

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 related to confidential medical appointments in accordance with BP/AR 5113 - Absences and Excuses.

(cf. 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 mot 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 gradation requirements in time to graduate by the end of the fourth year of high school. (Education Code 46015)

(cf. 6146.1 - High School Gradation Requirements)

(cf. 6146.11 - Alternative Credits Toward Graduation)

(cf. 6146.2 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)

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 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 4600-4687 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 the CDE finds merit in an appeal, the District shall provide a remedy to the affected student. (Education Code 222; 5 CCR 4600-4687)

(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 participation rates in District programs and services, academic achievement, school attendance, graduation rate, and/or student feedback on District programs and services.

(cf. 0500 - Accountability)

(cf. 6162.5 - Student Assessment)

(cf. 6190 - Evaluation of the Instructional Program)

Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.