National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Volume 23 Number 3 NEWSLETTER Pregnant and Students: Expecting Success

magine these scenarios: A school district sends its pregnant students to an alternative school where they learn about parent- ing, but quilting substitutes for geometry class; a school does Inot allow students who have been pregnant to run for homecoming

court or other class honors; a principal tells pregnant students they would be better off dropping out and getting a GED; a school re- fuses to excuse absences for students recovering from childbirth or treat -related conditions as eligible for homebound instruc- tion; a school will not send missed work to a new mother recovering at home so she can stay on track—she ends up failing and having to retake several courses the following school year, if she comes back.

oes that sound like the 1960s? This outcome is far from the profile of a program in Chelsea, Unfortunately, those are real inevitable. A study of young mothers Massachusetts, with an “expectant examples from the last five revealed that most—even those who and parenting student liaison” who D had a tremendous impact last year on years of ways pregnant and parenting were disengaged from school when students are marginalized and pushed they got pregnant—find a renewed both graduation rates and subsequent out of school. And all are violations sense of motivation when they pregnancy rates. Then comes a review of federal law. In 1972, Congress have children. When schools make of the National Women’s Law Center’s passed Title IX, which prohibits pregnant and parenting students feel report A Pregnancy Test for Schools: sex discrimination in education, welcome and serve as the hub for The Impact of Education Laws on including discrimination based on comprehensive, coordinated services, Pregnant and Parenting Students, and pregnancy or parental status. Schools it is more likely that such students will an article by U.S. Congressman Jared must prevent and address such continue attending school. And these Polis, former school superintendent discrimination, which exacerbates modest investments are likely to pay and chair of the Colorado State the other barriers—such as the lack off; according to a Gates Foundation Board of Education, on his efforts to of stable, affordable care and survey, students who left school to target interventions to pregnant and transportation—that many pregnant care for a member or because parenting students and on dropout and parenting students experience they became a parent, more than any prevention and recovery more broadly. in meeting their educational goals. other group of dropouts, were “most On the last page, you will find an

Pregnant and Parenting Students and Parenting Pregnant According to a 2010 study by Child likely to say they would have worked opinion piece by Wanda Pillow, Trends, only about 50% of teen harder if their schools had demanded Associate Professor at the University mothers get a high school diploma more of them and provided the of Utah School of Education and noted by age 22, compared with 89% of necessary support.” author of the book Unfit Subjects: women who did not have a child In this newsletter, you will learn Educational Policy and the Teen Mother. during their teen years, and one-third about ways for schools to support I truly appreciate the knowledge of teen mothers never get a diploma pregnant and parenting students and and expertise of all who contributed or GED. This is a problem not only keep them on track for success, and to this newsletter, and hope that these for them and their children, but you will see that this does not have to pages inspire schools and communities also for their communities and our be done in a separate school setting. to let go of outdated stereotypes and nation: Women who do not finish First is my interview of a former invest in the future of teen parents and high school are particularly likely to district superintendent from Corpus their children. be unemployed, to earn low wages if Christi, Texas, who started a program —Lara S. Kaufmann, Guest Editor they do get jobs, and to have to rely for pregnant and parenting students National Women’s Law Center on public support as a result. in the district’s high school. Next is [email protected] 2012 NDPN Crystal Star Winners

ive National Dropout Prevention cohort through the 10th grade, then Distinguished Leadership Network (NDPN) Crystal qualify for Berkeley Middle College and Service Winner FStar Awards of Excellence in in their junior and senior years. Linda Harrill joined Communities Dropout Recovery, Intervention, and STAR provides a rigorous course In Schools of North Carolina in 1989 Prevention winners were announced of study that embraces hands-on as its first state director. Since then, at the 24th Annual National Dropout learning, individualized instruction, she has worked with the governor’s Prevention Network Conference team instruction, and personal office to establish the North Carolina held in October 2012. These awards development. STAR also gives parents Mentoring Partnership and North identify and bring national recognition the opportunity to reengage in the Carolina Promise Summit. She to outstanding individuals who have education of their children and build received the “Long Leaf Pine,” the made significant contributions to a support group with the staff. highest civilian honor in North the advancement of the mission of Fred C. Beyer High School— Carolina, for her contributions to the NDPN. Please join the NDPN in AdvancePath Academy, Modesto, education, the 2007 North Carolina applauding the work of this year’s California, uses research-based State Alumni of the Year for Education winners who were selected from instructional and behavioral strategies and the UNC-W Razor-Walker Award. numerous outstanding nominees. to bring about remarkable results In 2012, she received the Triangle for at-risk students. Key factors in Business Journal Women in Business Program Award Winners their outstanding success include a honor, was named the NC Business Berkeley County School District’s strong commitment to increasing Leader Woman Extraordinaire, STAR Academy, Moncks Corner, attendance as well as a focus on and received MENTOR’s Manza South Carolina, offers off grade- academic success and improvements Excellence in Leadership Award. She level students the ability to catch in behavior. The Academy reports an has also been a driving partner in up with their peers and to graduate attendance rate of 87%, with only the implementation of the National on time. Students complete 8th and three discipline referrals accumulated Dropout Prevention Network’s Annual 9th grade in one year, continue as a during the past school year, compared At-Risk Youth National Forum, held to a record of 250 referrals from each February in South Carolina. among 10 students just prior to their National coming to AdvancePath Nominations for 2013 Dropout Prevention Crystal Star Awards Individual Award Winners Center/Network NDPN will be accepting nomina- Elaine Fahrner, Metropolitan tions for the 2013 Crystal Star Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, Awards of Excellence in Dropout Tennessee, has nearly 30 years of NEWSLETTER Recovery, Intervention, and experience in the field of education. Prevention beginning in February The National Dropout Prevention Most recently, Fahrner has served when forms will be available at www. Newsletter is published quarterly as principal of The Academy at Old by the National Dropout Prevention dropoutprevention.org. The deadline Cockrill, a high school that gives Center/Network. Your comments for nominations will be July 1, 2013. at-risk students and dropouts a new are always welcome. Please address The award categories are beginning. Elaine is the recipient mail to: Excellence in Dropout Recovery, of the 2012 “Key to Success in Newsletter Editor Intervention, and Prevention for Educational Excellence Award” from National Dropout Prevention Individuals and Programs; Excellence the National Alternative Education Center/Network in Dropout Recovery, Intervention, Association (NAEA). Elaine has College of Health, Education, and Prevention for Individuals also been a consistent presenter at and Human Development and Programs for Students with NDPC/N conferences. 209 Martin Street Disabilities; and Distinguished Jon Heymann leads Communities Clemson University Leadership and Service to the National In Schools of Jacksonville, an Clemson, SC 29631-1555 Dropout Prevention Network. organization that serves almost Phone: 864-656-2599 All award winners will be honored Email: [email protected] 7,000 at-risk students in Duval at the 25th Annual National Dropout Web: www.dropoutprevention.org County, Florida. In this capacity, and Prevention Network Conference in through his service on a variety of Atlanta, GA, November 3-6, 2013. Editorial Staff boards, Heymann has an impressive Winners receive an engraved Crystal and proven record of helping youth Stuart Udell, Network Chair Star Award, a waiver of registration throughout the nation. The Stanford Beth P. Reynolds, Executive Director fees for the conference, and a one- University Social Innovation Review Cairen C. Withington, Editor night complimentary room at the called Heymann one of America’s Lara S. Kaufmann, Guest Editor Crowne Plaza Ravinia. “transformational leaders.” Peg Chrestman, Editorial Assistant

2 National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Network Notes

our nation’s high schools. Ray is a Collaboration, and Implementation past president of the Association Strategies for Truancy Programs. Dr. for Supervision and Curriculum Cash is also nationally regarded as an Development (ASCD) and author of expert on mentoring, and represented It’s Not Us Against Them—Creating the NDPC at the annual National the Schools We Need. He has served Mentoring Summit. in education since 1973 as a The National Dropout Prevention teacher, vice principal, principal, Center and Network has much for Meet Our Guest Editor superintendent, and Vermont’s which to thank Dr. Cash, and we wish Education Commissioner. him well in the future.  Lara S. Kaufmann is Senior Counsel and Director of Education Policy for At- Ray’s topic will be “Creating the Risk Students at the National Women’s Schools and Learning We Need—in Law Center. Ms. Kaufmann engages Class and Online.” Tune in at 3:30 in litigation, advocacy, and public pm EST on January 23 to hear and education to advance women and participate in this informative program. girls at school and in the workplace, Link to www.dropoutprevention.org/ with a particular focus on improving webcast for access to the live program educational outcomes for at-risk girls, as well as any archived programs. including pregnant and parenting students. Ms. Kaufmann co-authored Thanks to Dr. Cash the Law Center’s 2012 report, A 25th Annual At-Risk Youth  Dr. Terry Pregnancy Test for Schools: The Impact Cash, Assistant National FORUM of Education Laws on Pregnant and Director of  The 25th Annual At-Risk Youth Parenting Students, as well as its 2009 the National National FORUM, Investing for a report, Listening to Latinas: Barriers to Dropout Lifetime: Education Is Economic High School Graduation. Before joining Prevention Development, will be held February 17- the Law Center, Ms. Kaufmann was a Center since 20, 2013, at the Kingston Plantation in Staff Attorney with the Federal Trade 2001, has Myrtle Beach, SC. This year’s FORUM Commission’s Bureau of Consumer announced is designed to enhance the leadership Protection, and prior to that she was his retirement effective January 2, skills of those seeking to strengthen an Assistant United States Attorney 2013, after decades of service not interventions among schools, in Chicago. She also worked with the only to NDPC, but to the State of communities, and , especially law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, South Carolina. He has served in a to assist students in at-risk situations. and was law clerk to then-Chief Judge variety of roles, as teacher, principal, Innovative, skilled presenters who have Marvin Aspen of the U.S. District administrator in the South Carolina excellent ideas, proven programs, and Court for the Northern District of Department of Education, and as a evidence-based research will share Illinois. Ms. Kaufmann is a graduate researcher and evaluator for NDPC for in the areas of dropout prevention, of the University of Michigan and more than 10 years—always with his family and community engagement, Northwestern University School of Law. heart and his lifelong commitment to curriculum and instruction, career students at risk. readiness and technical education, Solutions to the Dropout Crisis In his role at the NDPC, Dr. Cash changing school culture, specific populations, school and program  Our featured has traveled throughout the country, expert for the leading teams conducting Program safety, and economic development January 23 Assessment Reviews for schools and through education. Keynote speakers Solutions to the districts from Alaska to New York, for the event will be Mr. Raymond Dropout Crisis from Georgia to Washington State, J. McNulty, Chief Learning Officer at will be Raymond from New Hampshire to Mississippi. Penn Foster; Mr. Roger Canaff, Child J. McNulty, Chief The recommendations of his teams Protection and Anti-Violence Against Learning Officer have fostered improvements in Women Advocate, Legal Expert, Author, at Penn Foster countless schools and communities. and Public Speaker; and Rev. Dr. and a Senior In addition, he has authored a variety Clifford D. Barnett, Sr., Pastor, Warner Fellow to the of grant opportunities for the Center Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. We look International Center for Leadership and was a co-author of a monograph forward to seeing you at the FORUM. in Education. Ray is a former Senior on alternative education, Alternative Link to www.dropoutprevention.org/ Fellow at the Bill & Melinda Gates Schools: Best Practices for Development conferences/25th-annual-at-risk-youth- Foundation where he worked with and Evaluation; and another on national-forum for more information leading educators on improving truancy programs, Planning, and to register.

Pregnant and Parenting Students 3 Program Profile A Promising Program in West Oso, Texas by Lara Kaufmann

n December, I interviewed Dr. also get free child care at one of two What kinds of results Mary Jane Garza, former Assistant nearby centers (if they are in school), has the program ISuperintendent of the West Oso transportation for parent and child on had? ISD, about a program she helped to a bus with car seats, and homebound initiate to serve school-age parents. instruction if they cannot attend We have graduated school for pregnancy-related reasons. every single student As assistant district superintendent We provide referrals to community who has become in Corpus Christi, Texas, you started resources and help them pay for pregnant. It is great to an initiative for pregnant and doctor visits. We also are flexible— see them walk across parenting students? you have to be—about adjusting the stage, some very schedules for students who have pregnant or even Yes, we named it PEP, which stands morning sickness and need to come holding their child, so for Parent Education Program. We to school later. In addition to the proud and standing started it in 2006, and it serves both CIS case manager, we make a nurse tall. And the school’s teen mothers and fathers who attend available to them, and a counselor— teen pregnancy rates our school. It is housed in our district it’s a cross-team support system. went down; seeing the high school, and students who choose parenting students to participate have a regular class What kinds of “life skills” do struggling to make it schedule—the main difference is that students learn in the PEP parenting all work made other male and female they also take a parenting and life skills class? students think more about their class and have supportive services choices. Another positive outcome has available. It’s not your typical parenting class. In been the involvement of the students’ addition to learning about childbirth parents in their lives; parents see the How many students are in and being a parent, students learn school embracing their pregnant/ the program, and what is the about budgeting and finances, time parenting child, so why shouldn’t demographic makeup of the high management, balancing parenting they? school? and studying, subsequent pregnancy prevention, and career planning. Where did you get the funding to On average, about 15 students Outside speakers come once a month make this happen? participate in PEP each year, to interact with the students. The approximately 5-6 of whom are focus is on immediate needs as well Funding comes from a variety of pregnant. During my tenure, the school as planning for the future; the goal is sources, including some Title I funds had a total of about 520 students, to address what a teen parent needs because this is a key part of our 67% of whom were classified as “at to know to be successful in the 21st efforts to improve graduation rates, risk.” The student population was century. and some private grants. about 84% Hispanic and 14% African American. The district is classified as a Why did you decide to house the Any parting words for our readers? low-income district. program in your traditional high school and not in an alternative To make this work, you have to What supportive services does the school or at a separate site? address everything—the physical, program make available? social, emotional, and academic If we separate people, and isolate needs of pregnant and parenting We do everything we can to ensure them because of their choices, what students. You cannot leave any aspect that being a parent is not an obstacle are we saying to them? I wanted to out. It’s not as expensive as people to graduation. Communities In Schools show them that we are here for them. think, and it has a tremendous impact (CIS) provides case management in And I wanted to dispel the myth that on these students and their children. the building; participating students it will make other girls want to get Our greatest investments are our have to check in with them each day, pregnant. It hasn’t. It’s a very cost- students! so we can monitor and make sure effective program, and our pregnant (Dr. Garza recently left the West Oso they are coming to school while also and parenting students are not ISD and is now a United States Navy reminding them that we care about stigmatized or sent somewhere else Military School Liaison Officer for the their success. Participating students because of who they are. Department of Defense.)

4 National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Program Profile An Encouraging Intervention: The Expectant and Parenting Student Liaison by Elizabeth Peck

hen we support parenting • By April 2012, the general CHS evaluate the expectant and parenting students with effective student body had an average of liaison are a worthwhile investment. dropout prevention 11 absences, while expectant and • In the first school year of implemen- W parenting students had an average interventions, we save money. More tation (2011–2012) the dropout rate importantly, when we do not provide of 21 absences. for expectant and parenting females supports for students who need • The annual dropout rate at CHS for decreased by 27% as compared to them, we fail our young people and males and females in 2011–2012 the previous school year. reject their basic civil right to access was 5.8%, as compared to 24% for • The 27% reduction in the dropout a quality education. The stigma, the liaison’s combined cohort of rate means that in the 2011–2012 low expectations, inflexibility, and expectant and parenting males and school year, approximately five occasionally outright discrimination females. that expectant and parenting students more students stayed in school. face challenge this right head on. CHS’ expectant and parenting If those additional five students Disproportionately higher teen birth student liaison, Christine Kidd, served go on to graduate, that could save and dropout rates for expectant and 59 students last school year, working Massachusetts $2.3 million over the parenting African American and part time (20 hours/week including course of the graduates’ lifetimes. summers) for only $25,000 per year. Latino youth heighten the urgency for • Of the 10 males served in year one, Her duties include: stakeholders to take action to ensure only one left school, an astonishing equitable access to education. • Academic case management: Christine retention rate of 90%. In Not the Exception: Making intensively tracks and maps student • The statewide percentage of repeat Teen Parent Success the Rule, the progress towards graduation and, teen births to females ages 15- Massachusetts Alliance on Teen with pregnant teens, develops a 19 years old is 13.4%, while the Pregnancy showcases an expectant and maternity leave plan. percentage of repeat teen births at parenting student liaison intervention CHS was only 2.1% during the 2011- at Massachusetts’s Chelsea High School • Linkages to social services: She serves 2012 school year. (CHS). The liaison at CHS is not only as a link to the community and has an academic guide, but also a case increased access to community- We must bring to bear the tools manager, coach, and advocate. In this based supports for young parents. at our disposal to ensure that all multifaceted role, the liaison has the • Sustainability and advocacy: of our young people have equal opportunity to improve both the equality Christine advocates for students opportunities to access a quality of opportunities students get and the around child-care and attendance education. When we provide the efficient investment of resources to help issues and fosters in students an necessary supports for expectant and students stay in school. ability to navigate systems. parenting students, we protect these The following CHS data for last year • High expectations: Christine sets students’ civil rights, put more money help to illustrate the extent to which high expectations for her students in the pockets of taxpayers, and lay expectant and parenting students are and because she is sited at the high the groundwork for academic success at risk for dropping out: school, parenting students receive for the children of parenting youth— constant encouragement. Christine our next generation of students. has also helped to shift the school’s Link to www.massteenpregnancy. culture towards one that sees teen org/policy/promise-project for more pregnancy as a potential setback on the Massachusetts Alliance on rather than an indicator of inevitable Teen Pregnancy’s work to address dropout. access to education.

Data from the liaison’s first —Elizabeth Peck school year, although not statistically Public Policy Director significant, are very promising. Based Massachusetts Alliance on on these key indicators of success, Teen Pregnancy further efforts to implement and [email protected]

Pregnant and Parenting Students 5 Book Review Resources

A Pregnancy Test for Schools: The Impact of Education National Women’s Law Center Laws on Pregnant and Parenting Students (2012). National —Page on pregnant and parenting students Women’s Law Center. Available at http://www.nwlc.org/ www.nwlc.org/ sites/default/files/final_nwlc_pregnantparenting_report.pdf pregnantandparentingstudents —Webinar on pregnant and nyone struggling to balance work with family will not be surprised to parenting students under Title IX hear that young women who have children during their teenage years www.nwlc.org/resource/rights-pregnant- are significantly less likely to earn a high school diploma by age 22 and-parenting-students-under-title-ix- A webinar than students without children. However, sometimes schools go out of their way to make it more difficult for these students to graduate, like the charter American Civil Liberties Union school that banned pregnant students, reserved the right to test its students www.aclu.org/womens-rights/pregnant- for pregnancy, and abandoned its policy this year only after the ACLU brought and-parenting-teens it to national attention. The National Women’s Law Center’s recent report, A Pregnancy Test for Schools, explains the federal laws that protect these students Massachusetts Alliance on Teen from discrimination and unequal treatment, and analyzes and ranks each state’s Pregnancy—The Promise Project education laws and policies for how well they have the potential to promote www.massteenpregnancy.org/policy/ pregnant and parenting students’ success. promise-project The heart of this report is its discussion of how the needs of pregnant and parenting students can be met with excused absence policies that take into Los Angeles USD—Sample school account children’s illnesses, flexible class scheduling, homebound schooling, district policy on pregnant and and social supports such as day care, individualized case management, and parenting students -friendly transportation. While a good attendance policy can be relatively http://notebook.lausd.net/pls/ptl/ simple to implement at the school district level, the real challenge is to provide docs/PAGE/CA_LAUSD/FLDR_ family-specific services while maintaining access to the academic curricula and ORGANIZATIONS/FLDR_GENERAL_ activities that all students enjoy. Unfortunately, evidence-based measures of the COUNSEL/PREGNANT%20AND%20 success of these policies are difficult to find. PARENTING%20BULLETIN%20 Overall, the Center’s report found that while a handful of states have made 2060.0%20(FINAL).PDF important strides forward, no state has yet put the full range of major policies and programs in place that would help put pregnant and parenting students The Brooklyn Young Mothers’ on track to graduate college and career ready, and most states have little or no Collective laws, policies, or programs specifically designed to protect and support these www.bymcinc.org students. The report also contains a useful wallet-size card for students explaining their The National Crittenton Foundation rights, and a sample letter requesting improvements in a school or district’s www.nationalcrittenton.org excused absence policy. State policymakers and school administrators will want to take advantage of links to sample pregnant and parenting student policies How to File a Discrimination in eleven states and school districts. A Pregnancy Test for Schools provides an Complaint with the Office for Civil excellent start on solving the structural aspects of this important problem. Rights www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/ —Christina Brandt-Young docs/howto.html Attorney, Women’s Rights Project American Civil Liberties Union [email protected] Events Also Recommended: March 13-16, 2013 Denver, CO 24th Annual National Service-Learning Fighting the female dropout phenomenon: Supports can help prevent pregnant Conference—Without Limits and parenting youth from dropping out, by Laura Varlas, 2011, Education Update, http://servicelearningconference. 53:12. http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/dec11/ org/2013/ vol53/num12/Fighting-the-Female-Dropout-Phenomenon.aspx

Unfit subjects: Educational policy and the teen mother, 1972-2002, by Wanda S. April 14-17, 2013 Kansas City, MO Pillow, 2004, Taylor & Francis, Inc. 2013 Best Practices Forum on Dropout Prevention—Connecting in A series of recent reports by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research on a High Speed World: Preparing for student parents in postsecondary schools: http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/ Graduation and Beyond student-parent-success-initiative/resources-publications www.dropoutprevention.org

6 National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Tune In and Prevent Dropout by Congressman Jared Polis

hen a child drops out of students feel safe in school, increasing high school, a bright future Inaction on dropout prevention career and technical education, dims. When 1.2 million and including dropout reduction W is an acceptance of the immoral students drop out and three in ten best practices in school turnaround don’t graduate on time, it’s a national notion that public education is policies. All are useful approaches to crisis—and a massive failure on the pursue depending on the needs of parts of schools and policymakers. wasted on some children. It is an different states and school districts. One area of dropout prevention admission of ignorance about a Inaction on dropout prevention is I’ve worked to address is the needs an acceptance of the immoral notion of pregnant and parenting students. global economy that requires all that public education is wasted on Only half of teen mothers achieve a some children. It is an admission of the talents Americans can offer. diploma by the age of 22 and large ignorance about a global economy numbers of male and female dropouts that requires all the talents Americans cite parenting as a top reason taking attendance during first period. can offer. We need all young people, for leaving school. My Pregnant States should instead use a series regardless of their circumstances, to and Parenting Students Access to of enrollment counts or an average complete their education, find good Education Act would help schools of daily membership or attendance. jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to the support these students’ academic Schools and districts should also be well-being of the country. Preventing needs and connect them with quality careful that disciplinary actions, such and recovering dropouts must be resources for health care, child care, as out-of-school suspensions and an essential goal of educational and housing, and nutrition. If we’re going expulsions, aren’t overused and result economic policy. to address dropouts, we have to keep in unnecessarily driving children from these young people on course to a the classroom. They must also better —Jared Polis high school diploma. track and intervene with chronically U.S. Representative (D) We also need a broader dropout truant and undercredited students to 2nd Congressional District prevention strategy that helps all kids keep them in school and engaged. of Colorado at risk of leaving school, keeps them Even when students do drop http://polis.house.gov on track to graduation, and ensures out (or take leave to recover from that schools and districts bring childbirth), school districts must take dropouts back to the classroom. In the responsibility to reengage these short, we need to focus on three main students and get them back in the concepts: prevention, retention, and classroom. States should measure recovery. whether schools are recovering We need to identify students students, fund the enrollment of adult at risk of leaving school. Poor learners, and mandate coordination attendance, acting out, and failing between GED testing centers and to achieve are blinking red lights school districts so dropouts who fail warning of a possible future dropout. or never complete the GED can be An effective, research-based dropout brought back to school. All school early warning system should focus on districts should also have effective these ABCs: attendance, behavior, and alternative programs tailored to course credits. School administrators, dropouts, including flexible hours and teachers, counselors, and social quality online classes. workers are the first team in dropout A prevention, retention, and prevention, but policy must reinforce recovery approach forms a solid their efforts to keep kids in the basis for addressing the dropout classroom and on track to a diploma. crisis, but is not all-inclusive. There To start with, schools should be are other steps that can and should funded based on how many students be taken, including developing they keep in the classroom throughout more dual enrollment programs for the school year. One-quarter of states, high school students to take college including my home state of Colorado, classes, lowering college tuition Photograph by Liz Elkind. Used with permission. currently fund their schools based rates for undocumented students, on their number of students on a adopting inclusive antibullying and single date in the fall. That’s like only antiharassment restrictions so all

Pregnant and Parenting Students 7 National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Nonprofit Org. U.S.Postage NEWSLETTER PAID Permit No. 10 College of Health, Education, and Human Development, Clemson University Clemson, SC 209 Martin Street, Clemson, South Carolina 29631-1555

Viewpoint orty years after the passage of in educational options for young young mothers face, we can be pro- Title IX and waves of education mothers shockingly similar to those of actively involved in the area we have Freform, a vexing question the 1970s. Teen mothers remain part expertise and ability to impact: access remains: What is the role of schools in of an entrenched dropout rate, yet to schools and educational success. addressing teen pregnancy? we know that high school completion Educators have the power to shift Responses beginning with positively impacts young mothers’ the focus from prevailing attitudes about conversation about school policy economic and health outcomes. teen pregnancy to the value of access soon become mired in values about What if we change the above to education for all students, including teen sexuality, pregnancy, and the question from “what is the role” to the young mother, thus situating teen mother. High profile cases and “what is the responsibility of schools services that young mothers need, from abstinence-only debates consume to address teen pregnancy?” What pregnancy to childbirth, as necessary to attention while the teen mother as are the responsibilities of teachers, access and equal treatment. an educational subject is ignored. administrators, researchers, and Debates about contraceptive Discussions focused on meeting multi- scholars to respond to the educational availability and sex education will ple needs of young mothers place needs of the pregnant/mothering continue and whether teen birth rates schools in positions of wondering where student? What would it look like to work are up or down, schools are front-line to draw lines between school, family, from the baseline language of Title IX service providers for the young mother. social welfare, and health agency roles. and prioritize educational access and It is surely time for educators to become Many schools function under a code of quality for the young mother? leaders in the pursuit of initiatives, silence. As one school principal recently Educators play a vital role in young research, policies, and practices that confided: “If I don’t talk about teen mothers’ lives. Research indicates that support the success of pregnant/ pregnancy then they [teen mothers] for some young women pregnancy mothering students in school. don’t exist as a problem in my school.” is an impetus to focus on educational Current evidence indicates that attainment. While school attendance —Wanda Pillow, Ph.D. this stance is not uncommon. Most does not remove the difficulties Associate Professor school districts continue to operate pregnant teens confront, and educators School of Education, University of Utah under a policy of “no policy,” resulting cannot solve the variety of situations [email protected]