Pregnant/Parenting Student Supports

1. As a pregnant student or teen parent, you can contact your assigned counselor or site administrator
to ensure all appropriate accommodations, supports, and resources are available to you at your current
school site.
2. You have the same right as any student to continue your education, and the same responsibility to
attend school.
3. You have the right to stay enrolled at your current school. You cannot be excluded from any school
or program for which you qualify. This includes all advanced classes, special education or any other
schools or programs. You also have the right to participate in all school activities that may include: field
trips, student council and clubs, after school activities, graduation, awards and ceremonies, and all
school related programs. You also have the right to participate in physical education and school sports;
however, you can arrange to modify or limit your participation if your licensed healthcare provider
advises it.
4. You have the right to be treated with respect and protected from discrimination and harassment. All
school staff have the responsibility to protect your rights and to assure that both staff and students treat
you with respect. School staff members are not allowed to discriminate against you (treat you unfairly)
because you are pregnant or are a parent, whether or not you are married. School staff must also take
action to protect you against discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying by other students.
5. You have a right to have your confidentiality respected. Your health and personal information should
be kept confidential, just like that of other students. Information about your pregnancy should not
appear in your cumulative or other school records. It cannot be used against you when you apply or
are considered for awards, scholarships, or educational and job opportunities. Personal information you
share with a nurse, social worker, psychologist or licensed counselor is confidential and should not be
shared with other people without your permission. An exception is made to this rule of confidentiality
when there is concern that you or your child has been abused or is in danger. In this situation, school
staff are mandated reporters who must file a suspected child abuse report or follow other school district
policies as necessary.
6. You have a right to request that your current school make reasonable accommodations to make sure
you can participate in all school programs and activities at your school of current enrollment. These
accommodations might include, but are not limited to:
    ● Passes for bathroom use as needed
    ● Additional time for class changes, nutrition, and lunch
    ● School-based independent study when you are absent due to health-related issues or
    alternative comparable educational options if you choose not to return to your current school
    of enrollment
    ● Class changes to minimize absences due to childbirth and recovery
    ● Class changes to permit use of school-based childcare
    ● Scheduling classes in more accessible locations
    ● A larger desk or work space
    ● Elevator access when needed and possible

    ● Modified activities in physical education programs when requested by you and your medical
    provider
    ● A reasonable amount of time to accommodate the need to express breast milk or breast-feed
    an infant
    ● Access to a private and secure room to express breast milk or breast-feed an infant child
    ● Permission to bring onto a school campus a breast pump and any other equipment used to
    express breast milk
    ● Access to a power source for a breast pump or any other equipment used to express breast milk
    ● Access to a place to safely store expressed breast milk
    ● Eight weeks or more of parental leave as excused absences; the leave may be taken before the
    birth if there is medical necessity and after childbirth during the school year in which the birth
    takes place in order to protect your health and to allow you to bond with your infant
    ● An opportunity to make up missed work or satisfactorily complete equivalent work as determined
    by the teacher of the class, within a reasonable time period, due to accommodations or after
    your return from parental leave
    ● A fifth year of instruction at your high school of current/last enrollment when necessary to
    complete graduation requirements, unless it is determined that you can reasonably complete
    the requirements by the end of your fourth year of high school.
7. You have a right to have absences excused for illness or medical appointments for yourself or your
child. Excused absences also include absences due to childbirth and recovery, miscarriage, or
pregnancy termination. You may be asked to provide a note from your licensed healthcare provider if
other students with absences are also required to do so. Keep a copy of all notes and documents in
case you need them again. As a pregnant student, you also have a right to an extended absence when
you have your baby or for a pregnancy-related illness. The length of this absence is decided by your
licensed healthcare provider based on your health needs. At the end of the absence, you must be
allowed to return to school with the same status you had when you began the absence.
8. You must be allowed to make up work missed during an excused absence. After an extended
absence, you must be allowed a reasonable amount of time to make up assignments, missed exams or
other work or be provided with a reasonable equivalent of work. Once the work is satisfactorily
completed, you must be given credit. It is best to plan ahead, whenever possible, for absences and
making up missed work. Make arrangements with school staff as soon as possible and keep copies of all
of your papers.
9. You have the right to get the information and support you need to stay in school and graduate. Your
school counselor, nurse, social worker, and other school staff can provide information and support to
help you continue your education. They have information about access to medical care, mental health
services, and other social services, including programs that provide case management and support
services designed to assist pregnant and parenting teens.
10. You have the option to enroll at Academy of Innovation, or any other independent study program,
must be completely voluntary, and must be agreed upon by the student. You can get further information
about this school by talking to your school counselor or nurse or by calling the Academy of Innovation
at (951) 765-5193
If you make the decision to transfer to one of these specialized schools, your counselor will work with you
to ensure grades and/or credits are not lost in the transfer process. Counselors will work with students to
ensure the new school has the classes that you need or can make an arrangement for you to get them.
You have the right to return to your previous school. Make sure you work with a counselor about when
and how you can return. This is especially important if you are close to graduation.

11. You have a right to get help if you feel you have been treated unfairly due to your pregnancy or
parenting status. First, take your concern to an administrator at your school site. If this does not solve the
problem, you can speak with or submit your complaint in writing to the Title IX Coordinator at your Local
District office. You can also call the District’s Educational Equity Compliance Office at 951-506-7991 for
further assistance. Your complaint should be handled in a timely manner and your rights and
confidentiality should be respected. No one should threaten or harass you because you make a
complaint. You can learn more about your rights under Title IX at Uniform Complaint Procedures and
Title IX Coordination.

The governing board of the Hemet Unified School District will treat both the pregnant teen mother and the teen father with the same accommodations, regardless of sex. The teen parents may not be excluded from any class or extracurricular activities, solely on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or postpartum recovery. Physical and emotional ability to continue may only be determined by physician or nurse practitioner. Pregnant or parenting pupils may not be required to participate in pregnant minor programs or alternative programs, with the exception of personal choice.

 

Parental rights will be an option available in annual notifications or at semester term periods, welcome packets, orientation, online or in print, or in independent study packets as provided to all regular students from school districts or charter schools.

Parental leave for eight weeks for preparation of birth of infant, post-partum for mental and physical health needs of the teen parents and to bond with infants, or any additional medically approved time to protect the infant or parents is allowed. Any additional time due if deemed medically necessary, as prescribed by physician or nurse practitioner. The pregnant and parenting teens are not required to take all or part of the leave to which they are entitled. Leave will be approved by the district or charter school supervisor of attendance, as excused absence, with a unique code similar to independent study. However, no work is required during the leave. Upon return, the parenting teens are entitled to return to the school courses that they were enrolled in before taking leave. Make up plans and re-enrollment will be worked out with the school counselor or administrator to achieve an opportunity to fully participate
in all activities, as before leave. If needed, a parenting teen may enroll for a fifth year of instruction if on course for graduation requirements. If parenting teens were enrolled in an alternative school setting, a return to that environment is to be available as needed to achieve graduation. A pupil shall not incur any academic penalties due to using these available accommodations.

The District shall provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating pupil on a school campus to express breast milk, breast-feed an infant, or address other needs related to breast-feeding. A pupil shall not incur an academic penalty as a result of her use, during the school day, of the reasonable accommodations, and shall be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use (EC Section 222(a)(e)). An illness for a sick child does not require a doctor note for the custodial parenting teens; the mother or father will be excused by the attendance supervisor.

An expectant parent can qualify for public assistance to help cover the basic necessities of the mother during pregnancy, plus support for the father, mother and a new baby after delivery. Registration for the public assistance program is done through the Riverside County Health Services Office. Many OB/GYN doctor’s offices will assist the pregnant mother register for these services so it is best to consult your doctor’s office for guidance.

 

1. RivHero WIC services strive to simplify your life! We offer wholesome foods, appointments to fit your day, personalized health plans, wellness and breastfeeding coaches, online classes and tools to strengthen your family. RivHero WIC provides services to thousands of women, children and families in Riverside County. If you’re pregnant, or a caretaker of a child under age five, we offer personalized support for you and your family. For your safety, WIC services are available online, over the phone (855-RIV-HERO) and in person with an appointment. Our goal is to provide you with your WIC food card the same day you apply!

2. Riverside County also has the Assistance Programs that consist of Food Stamps, General Relief, and Medi-Cal. Food Stamps provide aid in the form of coupons for limited grocery items. The Food Stamp Program is designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's population by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households. Eligibility for this program is income-based. General Relief (GR) is a small, County-funded, vouchers-only program and is generally a source for needy individuals who may not qualify under the primary aid programs. The County provides for limited funding directly to the housing provider. The program also provides for a modest food supplement. Medi-Cal is health insurance for California residents with limited income and resources. Medi-Cal is health care insurance for children, pregnant women, families, the elderly, blind and disabled. Medi-Cal can pay for the expenses of prenatal care, dental care, physical therapy, pharmacy services, vision care, nursing home care, emergency medical transportation and other medical expenses.

 

3. Birth Choice Hemet offers comprehensive support for pregnant mothers, starting with free pregnancy testing and consultations to help you make informed decisions. If a pregnancy is confirmed, they provide limited obstetric ultrasounds to check viability. Their Earn While You Learn program empowers expectant and new parents with valuable life skills and essential child care items, rewarding participation with points that can be redeemed in the Baby Shops. Additionally, they provide emergency material assistance for essential needs like diapers and food. A special program for fathers is also available, offering support and guidance to help them strengthen their parenting skills and relationship with the child's mother.

4. My City Youth The teen parent program provides at-risk and low-income teen parents with counseling, parenting classes, and guidance in completing high school, continuing on to college, finding jobs, and becoming successful parents. There are field trips, park days, quarterly fun activities, and an on-site play area where moms and their little ones can gather each week. The success of this program can be measured in the lives of those who have completed it. Many have become responsible parents, either in school preparing for a future career or already working members of the community, thus increasing the number of gainfully employed teen parents and reducing the number of relying on public assistance.

5. Neighborhood Healthcare is dedicated to supporting pregnant mothers with a comprehensive prenatal program designed to ensure quality care throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Their services include prenatal and childbirth education, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support. For those with higher-risk pregnancies, high-risk obstetricians are available. Additionally, they offer counseling, chiropractic services, and postpartum care to address the diverse needs of new mothers, promoting both their well-being and that of their babies.