Programs and Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students

1. Programs and Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students Calandra Sechrist, Program Supervisor Equity & Civil Rights, OSPI Mary Nagel,Program Supervisor Family and Consumer Science, OSPI Heidi Schultz, GRADS Program Specialist, OSPI Flickr/MahalieStackpole

2. 360-725-6162 www.k12.wa.us/equity

3. GRADS Program Graduation Reality And Dual-Role Skills

4. Only 51%of teen mothers get a high school diploma by the age of 22, while with 89% of their peers earned diplomas by that age. 1/3of teenage mothers never get a GED or high school diploma. Less than 2% of teenage mothers attain a college degree by the age of 30. 5,574total birth to teens age 15-19 in Washington State

5. Barriers “My teachers gave up on me.” “I don’t feel welcome anymore.” “I would have worked harder if my school had demanded more of me.” “I had to drop out.” In Washington, 171 students reported dropping out due to pregnancy in 2011

6. Civil Rights Protections • FEDERAL LAW • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 • 20 U.S.C. § 1681 | 34 C.F.R. Part 106 • STATE LAW • Equal Educational Opportunity • Chapter 28A.640 RCW | Chapter 392-190 WAC • Washington Law Against Discrimination • Chapter 49.60 RCW | Chapter 162-26 WAC

7. Civil Rights Protections Civil rights laws specifically prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, termination or pregnancy, miscarriage, or any pregnancy-related condition. Schools may not apply any rule related to a student’s parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently based on sex.

8. New guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (June 25, 2013) http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/pregnancy.pdf

9. “Can my school pressure me to drop out or take a year off?”

10. “Can my school transfer me to an alternative school or program?”

11. Participation must be completely voluntary.

12. Alternative programs must provide comparable opportunities and activities.

13. Parenting classes and programs must be open to male and female students.

14. “Can I still be valedictorian?”

15. “Can I still participate in sports and other activities?”

16. “What if I’m absent because of morning sickness or because I go into labor?”

17. Excuse the student’s absence Make-up assignments Student returns to the same status Services that are provided for students with temporary disabilities (home hospital, health plans, etc.)

18. “What if I’m absent because I need to take my baby to the doctor?” Flickr/michael_swan (Creative Commons)

19. Excused absences include: “Illness, health condition or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental or optometry) for the student or person for who the student is legally responsible.” WAC 392-400-325 Flickr/michael_swan (Creative Commons)

20. “Can I get a Section 504 plan?” Pregnancy alone is not a disability. Pregnancy-related conditions could qualify a student under Section 504. Reasonable adjustments may still be required

21. “My classmates started calling me names like ‘slut’ and ‘whore.’”

22. Pregnancy harassment is a form of sex discrimination!

23. “I don’t want anyone to know!”

24. School districts may disclose student records, without consent, to school officials with a legitimate educational interest.  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 20 U.S.C. § 1232g | 34 CFR Part 99

25. “I think my rights have been violated – what do I do?”

26. Contact the district’s Title IX Officer! Title IX Officer http://www.k12.wa.us/Equity/ContactList.aspx

27. Anyone can file a complaint. WAC 392-190 Procedure 3210P

28. Anyone can file a complaint. U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) www.ed.gov/ocr

29. Pregnancy and parenthood can be strong motivators for students!

30. What is GRADS? • GRADS is Validated by the U.S. Department of Education's Program Effectiveness Panel, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, for all pregnant and parenting teens, male and female, in grades 7-12 from city, community, county, and vocational school districts in urban, suburban and rural communities. • Pregnant and parenting teens enrolled in the program are more likely to remain in school during pregnancy and after childbirth; are more likely to obtain early prenatal care; are less likely to deliver low birth weight babies; are likely to increase their knowledge of positive parenting practices; and are less likely to have a subsequent pregnancy while still in school. http://www.oatfacs.org/GRADS/GRADS%20program%20information.pdf

31. Childcare The average fee for full-time childcare ranges from $3,600 to $18,200 annually (depending on where the family lives, type of care, age of child the child.

32. Grads partners • State grant – pregnant foster kids • Homelessness • Abuse issues – Attorney General’s Office and Coalition on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence CubaGallery

34. Referring students to GRADS (HIPPA/FERPA) • If you have a GRAD’s program in your district or county, you can tell a student about the GRAD’s program. • You can tell the GRAD’s instructor about a teen that is or will become a teen parent.

35. Department of Health Needs Assessment Common Themes: • Lack of accommodations. • Credits and absences not dealt with appropriately. • Forced to attend an alternative school. • Forced out of school. “[They] said that I wasn’t a good role model for kids to look at and that I was a bad influence. The [Principal] told my mom “it’s my school and I can do as I want and I’m kicking you out because your pregnant.” I had no choice but to go to [alternative school].” They just said “go”. [Did they give you options?] “No, they just said go.” After missing a lot of school with morning sickness, the counselor dropped her out…. She wanted to keep going. The new principal told her she should consider online school… but she couldn’t afford the internet.

36. Washington Stats • GRADS served about 476 students in 19 programs • 21.7 % drop out recovery rate in GRADs • 88% of enrollees received early pre-natal care. Estimates find that 1/3 of pregnant teens do not get the prenatal care that they need. • Only 4 % of teen mom’s had a second child while enrolled and the national average is 20 % • http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6213a4.htm?s_cid=mm6213a4_w • http://www.pregnantteenhelp.org/help/prenatal-care-for-pregnant-teens/ • 2010-11

37. Can My School District Start a GRADS Program? • Do you have a Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FASCE) certified teacher? • Complete the GRADS teacher training course. • Washington State GRADS Curriculum Framework • http://www.k12.wa.us/CareerTechEd/clusters/HumanServices/GRADSCurriculumFramework.pdf • Child Care • GRADS Advisory Board

38. Stories from GRADS Teachers • Kelso-“This class meant everything to me. It was my biggest support group. Without this class, I don’t think I would have graduated on time, or be anywhere close to where I am now.” “I learned so many things new things being around all the other parents an pregnant teens.” • Aberdeen- Had a 70% grad rate this year! 5 of the graduates used what they learned in GRADS to complete their culminating projects they highlighted their personal growth in GRADS and showcased the powerful benefits of the GRADS program. • Evergreen- Expanded the books for babies project; was able to give out 384 new/used infant toddler books (about 10 books per student) . Books came from grants, book drives, and school staff donations. A librarian came to the classroom once a month for six weeks and was important in helping students understand the value of reading and literacy.

39. Discussion Questions Do you have a teen parent program in your school or district? If so, tell us about it. What is your referral process for pregnant and/or parenting students in your school or district; to a teen parent program?

40. Contact Us! OSPI Equity and Civil Rights Office Calandra Sechrist, Program Supervisor (360) 725-6162 equity@k12.wa.us www.k12.wa.us/equity OSPI Family and Consumer Sciences Mary Nagel, Program Supervisor (360) 725-6242 Mary.Nagel@k12.wa.us OSPI GRADS Program Heidi Schultz, GRADS Program Specialist (360) 725-0417 Heidi.Schultz@k12.wa.us www.k12.wa.us/CareerTechEd/ GRADSProgram.aspx