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Oakland Unified School District

Married Pregnant Parenting Students

Board Policy 5146 - Married, Pregnant and Parenting Students (Amended 5/24/17)

The Governing Board recognizes that early marriage, pregnancy or parenting and related responsibilities may disrupt a student's education and increase the chance of a student dropping out of school. The Board therefore desires to support married, pregnant, and parenting students to continue their education, attain strong academic and parenting skills to promote the healthy development of their children.

The district shall not discriminate against any student on the basis of the student's marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery (EC 230; 34 CFR 106.40)

For school related purposes, a student under the age of 18 years who enters into a valid marriage shall have all the rights and privileges of students who are 18 years old, even if the marriage has been dissolved (Family Code 7002)

Educational and Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Students

Pregnant and parenting students shall retain the right to participate in any comprehensive school or educational alternative program. The classroom setting shall be the preferred instructional strategy unless an alternative is necessary to meet the needs of the student and his/her child.

Any educational program or activity that is offered separately to pregnant students, including any class or extracurricular activity, shall be equal to that offered to other district students. A student's participation in such programs shall be voluntary (5 CCR 4950)

Absences

Pregnant or parenting students may be excused for absences related to confidential medical appointments in accordance with BP/AR - Absences and Excuses.

The Superintendent or designee shall grant a student a leave of absence due to pregnancy, childbirth or false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and related recovery for as long as it is deemed medically necessary by a physician. At the conclusion of the leave, the student shall be reinstated to the status held when the leave began. (34 CFR 106.40)

As required for other students with physical or emotional conditions or temporary disabilities, the Superintendent or designee may require a student, based upon pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery, to obtain certification from a physician indicating that the student is physically and emotionally able to participate in an educational program or activity ( 34 CFR 106.40)

Reasonable Accommodation

When necessary, the district shall provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and parenting students to enable them to access the educational program.

A pregnant student shall have access to any services available to other students with temporary disabilities or medical conditions. (34 CFR 106.40)

The school shall provide reasonable accommodations to any lactating student to express breast milk, breastfeed an infant child, or address other needs related to breastfeeding. A student shall not incur an academic penalty for using any of these reasonable accommodations, and shall be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to: (Education Code 222)

  1.  Access to a private and secure room, other than a restroom, to express breast milk, or breastfeed an infant child.
  2.  Permission to bring onto a school campus a breast pump and any other equipment used to express breast milk.
  3.  Access to a power source for a breast pump or any other equipment used to express breast milk.
  4.  Access to a place to store expressed breast milk safely.
  5.  A reasonable amount of time to accommodate the student's need to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child.

Complaints

Any complaint of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or marital or parental status shall be addressed through the district's uniform complaint procedures in accordance with 5 CCR 4600-4687 and BP/AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. If you wish to file a complaint, please contact the Office of the Ombudsperson, Cole Campus, 1011 Union Street, Site 906, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 879-4281.