For school-related purposes, married students under the age of 18 are emancipated minors and have all the rights and privileges of a student who is 18, even if the marriage has been dissolved.
The Governing Board believes that pregnancy and parenting should not be a barrier to education or a reason for dropping out of school. Rather than ending the teenager's need for education, pregnancy and parenting increase the need to cope with adult responsibilities and to prepare for an economically self-sufficient future.
After the birth of her baby, the student may:
1. Return to regular high school or middle school classes.
2. Remain in an alternative program.
3. Attend continuation high school or adult education classes.
4. Request exemption from attendance because of personal services that must be rendered to a dependent (Education Code 48410(c)).
Pregnant Minors Program
The Board recognizes that pregnant minors may derive great benefit from a specialized program that supplements academic courses with practical instruction geared to their specific needs. In addition to providing psychological support, this program may include instruction in health, prenatal and postnatal care, preparation for childbirth and parenting, home economics, consumer education, child development, money management, and employable skills.
The district's program for pregnant minors shall:
1. Identify program goals, student needs, and community resources.
2. Provide an academic program which gives equal educational opportunities to pregnant minors.
3. Maintain a program advisory council to advise the Superintendent in implementation of the program.
4. Provide student referral, placement, and transition procedures for students who have not completed graduation requirements at the end of their program eligibility.
5. Have available a program expenditure budget, approved by the Board and County Board of Education, which justifies its funding request.
The Superintendent or designee shall appoint a program plan committee to review individual participation in the program. (5 CCR 11827)
Written notice shall be provided to each pregnant minor's parent/guardian, describing the program plan for the enrolled student. If the student is married or legally emancipated, this notice is not required.
Any student is eligible for participation in the program if she has not graduated from high school and has a written pregnancy verification from a licensed physician. A doctor's statement that the student is receiving prenatal care must be obtained by the Superintendent or designee within 60 days after placement in the program. All further eligibility considerations shall comply with 5 CCR 1829.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
2551.3 Determination of state aid for pregnant minors program
17293 School facilities for pregnant/parenting teen programs
48220 Compulsory education requirement
48410 Persons exempted from continuation classes
49553 Nutrition supplements for pregnant/lactating students
49558 Confidentiality of applications and records for free or reduced price meals
51220.5 Parenting skills and education
51745 Independent study
52610.5 Enrollment of pregnant and parenting students in adult education
54740-54749.5 California School Age Families Education Program (Cal-SAFE)
FAMILY CODE
7002 Description of emancipated minor
7050 Purposes for which emancipated minor considered an adult
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
124175-124200 Adolescent and Family Life Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1681-1688 Title IX, Education Act Amendments
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
106.40 Marital or parental status
Management Resources:
CDE PUBLICATIONS
Pregnant and Parenting Students: A Report to the Legislature, April 1996
SBE POLICIES
Policy statement on adolescent pregnancy and parenting, July 9, 1993
WEB SITES
California Department of Public Health: http://www.cdph.ca.gov
Department of Social Services: http://www.dss.cahswnet.gov
Policy ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 9, 1997 Alhambra, California