3250 - PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS
The Durham Public Schools Board of Education assumes responsibility for providing continuing educational opportunities for pregnant and parenting students. The district will use supplemental funds from the At-Risk Student Services allotment to support programs for pregnant and parenting students if necessary. The following reasonable safeguards shall be exercised:
1. Pregnant or parenting students will not be discriminated against or excluded from school or any program, class, or extracurricular activity because they are pregnant or parenting. In situations where a student’s pregnancy creates a barrier to participate in certain classes or academic programs, the district will make every reasonable effort to offer comparable instruction and curriculum.
2. Upon notification that a student is pregnant, the school shall assess the need for changes in the student’s program on an individual basis. Any decision to modify the student’s program shall be made only after consultation with the student, parent or guardian, and medical consultant, as appropriate. Participation in a modified program is voluntary for the pregnant student. The identification of any special educational needs of a pregnant student shall be made in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children With Disabilities.
3. The school shall make referrals for services to community agencies where appropriate.
4. Pregnant and parenting students shall be given excused absences from school for pregnancy and related conditions for the length of time the student’s physician finds medically necessary. This includes absences due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent.
5. Homework, make-up work, and homebound instruction if necessary, shall be made available to pregnant and parenting students to enable them to keep current with assignments and avoid losing course credit because of their absence from school.
In addition, school personnel shall provide annually to all students in Grades 9-12 information on the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person, in accordance with G.S. 7B-500. A responsible person may include a health care provider, a law enforcement officer, a social services worker, a certified emergency medical worker or any responsible adult.
LEGAL REF: G.S. 115C-375.5, -47(52); Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; 34 C.F.R. 106.40; 16 N.C.A.C. 6H.0107; G.S. 7B-500.
Adopted Effective: August 25, 2011
