Policy 5.27

Parental and Marital Status of Students

1. Purpose. To ensure that married, pregnant or parenting students are provided educational services in a nondiscriminatory manner.

2. Scope. This policy is applicable to all married, pregnant and parenting students.

3. Policy Statement. The School Board recognizes that in order to be successful, productive citizens all students must be provided with educational opportunities. This includes students who become or have become married, students who are pregnant, and students who are parents. Therefore, the School District shall provide married, pregnant and parenting students the same educational opportunities or its equivalent as all other students. Such students shall not be excluded from any class, program, or extracurricular activity based on their marital, pregnant or parental status, unless otherwise provided by Federal law.

4. Pregnant or Parenting Students

   1. A pregnant student shall be referred to the school guidance department as soon as the pregnancy is apparent. Counseling services to assist her and her parents in planning for the future shall be made available.

   2. Pregnant or parenting students may continue in their regular daytime program or voluntarily transfer to an alternative school designed to meet their scholastic, adjustment and parenting needs, as provided in School Board Policy 8.13 (Educational Alternative Programs)

   3. In accordance with Federal laws and regulations, a pregnant student who for medical reasons finds it necessary to be on medical homebound instruction must be provided with the same services provided to other students who are receiving medical homebound instruction.

   4. Pregnant or parenting students participating in a teenage parent program are exempt from minimum attendance requirements for absences related to pregnancy or parenting but are required to make up work missed due to absences.

   5. Schools shall provide counseling to any male student who has acknowledged that he is the father of a pregnant girl's child.

5. Rules/Regulations. Married, pregnant and parenting students shall comply with the same rules and regulations which govern all students of the School District, except as modified by § 1003.54.

6. Delegation of Responsibility. The Superintendent or designee shall develop administrative procedures or guidelines for implementing this policy.