This pamphlet has been prepared for secondary school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, and students.3 The first section provides background on school retention problems associated with pregnant and parenting students. The next two sections, “Title IX Requirements Regarding Pregnant and Parenting Students” and “Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining to Title IX Requirements Regarding Pregnant and Parenting Students,” provide information on the law’s specific requirements regarding pregnancy and parenthood. The final two sections, “Strategies to Assist Educators in Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Students” and “Programs Designed to Support Pregnant and Parenting Students,” include strategies that educators can use and programs that schools can develop to address the educational needs of students who become pregnant or have children. These strategies and programs have been implemented by some school districts to address those needs while complying with Title IX. They are recommendations and are not legally mandated by Title IX or its regulations.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is responsible for enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in federally assisted educational programs and activities. These laws include Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities. All public and private educational institutions that receive any federal financial assistance (“schools”) must comply with this law. (Note, however, that an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization is exempt from Title IX when the law’s requirements would conflict with the organization’s religious tenets.1) Title IX protects students in all of the academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools. This includes prohibiting discrimination against pregnant and parenting students.