Education Laws and Rights
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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1. National Statistics
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2. Laws and Rights
a. Title IX
b. 504 Plans
3. School Supports
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4. Related Mental Health Issues
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5. Case Study
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6. Take Action – An Idea to help you get started
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According to the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
Website(2012):
◦ Over the past two decades, the U.S. teen pregnancy
rate has declined
◦ Pregnant teens withdrawing from school
 most teen moms will never graduate
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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Mental health issues show higher percentages in
mothers who have unplanned pregnancies compared
to planned: 51% (unplanned) 34%(planned)
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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Title IX
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504 Plans
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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1975: equal opportunities/access of education
“Title IX states A recipient of federal funding shall not
discriminate against any student, or exclude any student from
its education program or activity, including any class or
extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student’s
pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of
pregnancy, or recovery therefrom, unless the student
requests voluntarily to participate in a separate portion of the
program” [4].
Student’s choice – School’s responsibility
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As a result of an evaluation –
 Physical or Mental Impairment
 Limits one or more major life activities
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What about a teen that’s Pregnant?
Determined by the school district
Pregnant–related complications
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http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.p
t/community/purdon's_statutes/7503/pregn
ant_and_parenting_students/507338
Information on Attendance
◦ Exceptions
◦ Excuses
◦ Homebound Instruction
Suggested Guidelines for Pregnant & Parenting
Teens[2]
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Student’s choice = school responsibility
◦ Provide Accommodations
 Appropriate and necessary accommodations
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◦ Prevention:
 Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary
◦ School Supports – School Nurse &
mentoring teacher
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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Alyssa is a Junior in High School
◦ Guidance office
 Home Schooling
 How to withdrawal from school
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Amber is a 16 year-old
pregnant teen
Creating a plant that
includes
 an adaptable schedule
 Defining what is
excused/unexcused
 Transportation
 Mentor for support
 GRADUATION
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Overwhelmed
Schedule/Organize
Undecided
Plan/Prepare
Maybe
Without Support
I Can Do This!
With Support
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Can a school district send pregnant teens to
another school just because they are
pregnant?
Can a pregnant teen have a 504 Plan?
How many excused absences can a pregnant
or parenting teen have?
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CREATE A PLAN
 Review the plan yearly
 Get Staff (Teachers) Involved
 All options should be goals of GRADUATION and avoid
WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL
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1. Bunting, C. (2007). Principals as classroom leaders. Principal, 39-41.
2. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2012). Pregnant and parenting students.
Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/
purdon's_statutes/7503/pregnant_and_parenting_students/507338
3.Miller, B. C., Bayley, B. K., Christensen, M., Leavitt, S. C., & Coyl, D.D. (2006).
Adolescent pregnancy and child bearing. In G.R. Adams & M.D.
Berzonsky (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of adolescence (pp. 415-449).
Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
4. Pillow, W. (2006). Teen pregnancy and education: Politics of knowledge,
research, and practice. Educational Policy, 20(59), 59-84.
5. Romo, L. R., & Nadeem, E. (2007). School connectedness, mental health,
and well-being of adolescent mothers. Theory into Practice, 46(2), 130137.
6. Rooney, J. (2008). What do we believe? Educational Leadership, 88-90.
7. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2012).
Why it matters. Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/whyit-matters/default.aspx
8. Weissberg, R. P., Kumpfer, K. L., & Seligman, M. P. (2003). Prevention that
works for children and youth. American Psychologist, 58(6/7), 425- 432.
Copyright 2012 E.R. Lynch
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