Pregnant and Parenting Students: Supporting Academic Success Through Title IX

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Date: 

June 23, 2017

Title IX at 45: Advancing Opportunity through Equity in Education

This chapter is an excerpt from the report "Title IX at 45: Advancing Opportunity through Equity in Education," produced by the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE), about the impact of Title IX, which mandates gender equity in education. It also looks at the role of Title IX coordinators in helping schools comply with the law.

About this Chapter

This chapter was contributed to report by Legal Momentum's Deputy Legal Director and Senior Attorney Jennifer Becker, and details how Title IX’s promise of equal opportunity for girls and women is still far from being fulfilled when it comes to pregnant and parenting students. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or parenting, yet these students frequently face policies that segregate them, exclude them from class or extracurricular activities, or punish them for excused medical absences.

These discriminatory practices can have devastating consequences. Faced with missed work and other obstacles, many pregnant and parenting students drop out of school, thus lowering their chances of finding stable employment that will let them support their families. Schools can ensure compliance with Title IX by establishing equitable policies, educating the school community about the rights of pregnant and parenting students, and putting support structures in place. Such measures can help young parents—both mothers and fathers—stay in school and succeed.

  • Equal Educational Opportunities

Author(s): 

National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education
Jennifer Becker

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