Current law in the State of Wisconsin assures that every student who is pregnant or parenting has a right to an education. Under Chapter 115, subchapter VI, entitled, "Education for School Age Parents," a school age parent is defined as "any person under the age of 21 who is not a high school graduate and is a parent, an expectant parent, or a person who has been pregnant within the immediately preceding 120 days." Under the Pupil Nondiscrimination Law, s. 118.13 of the Wisconsin Statutes, no person may be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational program or activity because of pregnancy, marital, or parental status.
The River Valley School District provides a school age parent program for teen parents attending school. Every teen parent in the State of Wisconsin has the following rights:
1. The right to an equal education.
2. The right to stay in school until the completion of high school or reaching the age of 21.
3. The right to program modification and services that will enable the pupil to continue his or her education. (Section 115.915 of the Wisconsin Statute)
The Board of Education and/or school employees will assist in providing education for school age parents. Its goal is to increase the chances for a healthy birth and healthy offspring by improving nutrition of mothers and decreasing behaviors that are harmful to the infant during pregnancy, such as drugs, alcohol and tobacco use, and to achieve high school graduation by school age parents.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 115.915 Wisconsin Statutes
118.13
118.15(4m)
118.153
Chapter PI 19 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code
CROSS REF.: Policy #342.3 - Program for Children at Risk
Policy #411-Rule - Discrimination Complaint Procedures
APPROVED: July 13, 1989
REVISED: August 8, 1991
APPROVED: September 12, 1991
REVISED: November 13, 1997
APPROVED: December 11, 1997
12/21/2004 pw