Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel & Director of Education Policy for At-Risk Students

This week a charter school in Delhi, Louisiana was called out by the ACLU for blatant Title IX violations when it was discovered that the school had a policy of kicking out pregnant students. A Louisiana Department of Education spokesperson said he “did not know the state's policies for pregnant students.” It is unacceptable that in the year 2012 so few lawmakers, school officials, teachers know that Title IX prohibits discrimination against pregnant and parenting students.

NWLC’s report, “A Pregnancy Test for Schools” clearly delineates the rights of pregnant and parenting students in a convenient Bill of Rights.

1. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
2. You have the right to be free of discrimination. No one can kick you out of school because you are pregnant or a parent.
3. Your school must excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is necessary. All of your teachers are required to give you a reasonable amount of time, after the conclusion of those absences, to make up the work you missed.
4. Separate programs or schools for students who are pregnant or parents must be completely voluntary. You cannot be forced to attend a separate school.

What a great way to start the day! I sat down at my desk, opened my email, and was immediately greeted with good news. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that young people who were brought to the United States before age 16 and who meet several key criteria will no longer be subject to deportation immediately. Instead, they will be considered for relief from removal proceedings for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization. I applaud the Obama Administration for taking this huge step forward for our country’s immigration policy.

This is also a big step forward for education policy, because to be eligible for this relief the youth has to be in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces. Creating a clear path to work authorization (and taking away the stress of possible removal) for eligible, hard-working students will provide them with a powerful incentive to stay in high school and graduate.