Fact Sheet: Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act

August 05, 2011

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Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act

S. 870 (Udall-NM)/H.R. 1845 (Polis-CO)

 

Why Focus on Pregnant and Parenting Students in Education Reform?

  • Every year in the United States, there are approximately 750,000 teen pregnancies. Nearly 3 in 10 girls in the U.S. get pregnant at least once before age 20.
  • Pregnancy and parenting responsibilities significantly increase a student’s risk of dropping out of school. In a nationwide survey of dropout youth, 33% of female dropouts and almost 20% of male dropouts said that becoming a parent was a major factor in their decision to leave school.
  • Parenting responsibilities impede students' graduation. Only 51% of women who gave birth as a teen have a high school diploma compared to 89% of women who did not have a teen birth.
  • The dropout crisis experienced by this group of students has severe short- and long-term consequences for the economic success and well-being of their families and communities, as well as our nation. Ensuring the success of pregnant and parenting students is critical, not only for them but also for their children, who will be more likely to eventually drop out if their parents have done so.
  • Pregnant and parenting teens face many barriers to enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school, such as discrimination, the challenge of juggling schoolwork with parenting responsibilities, and lack of access to child care, transportation, and other critical services.

 

Why Support the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act?

  • Providing supports for pregnant and parenting students can go a long way toward improving high school graduation rates, especially because pregnant and parenting students often are highly motivated. In the survey of dropout youth mentioned above, those who left school to care for a family member or because they became a parent were more likely than any other group of dropouts to say they would have worked harder if their schools had demanded more of them and provided the necessary supports.
  • Eighty-one percent of all births to teens were first births and 16% were second births.  The remainder were births to teens who had two or more previous births.  For teen parents already struggling to finish their education, having another child can make it that much harder.

 

What Does the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act Do?

  • Authorizes necessary resources for states and school districts to ensure that pregnant and parenting students get the support and encouragement they need to stay in school and graduate college or career ready.
  • Enables states to create a state plan for pregnant and parenting students, provide professional development and technical assistance to school districts, coordinate services with other state agencies, and disseminate information, among other activities.
  • Establishes a state coordinator and school district liaisons for the education of pregnant and parenting students.
  • Requires school district grantees to provide academic support services for pregnant and parenting students; assist students in gaining access to affordable child care, early childhood education, and transportation services; engage in student outreach, recruitment and retention;

provide professional development for school personnel; and revise school policies and practices to remove barriers and encourage pregnant and parenting students to continue their education.

 

  • Allows districts to provide parenting and life skills classes; case management services; pregnancy prevention strategies; referrals to primary health care, family planning, mental health, substance abuse, housing assistance, legal aid, mentoring, or other supportive services needed by the student; as well as to address school climate issues, including illegal discrimination against and stigmatization of pregnant and parenting students.
  • Collects and reports data on pregnant and parenting students annually, including educational outcomes, and requires a rigorous evaluation of the program.

 

Points of Contact

 

Who Supports the Pregnant and Parenting Student Access to Education Act?

 

National Organizations

  1. 9to5
  2. ACCEPT
  3. Advocates for Youth
  4. African American Ministers in Action
  5. AGELE (Association for Gender Equity in Leadership in Education)
  6. Alliance for Excellent Education
  7. American Association of University Women (AAUW)
  8. American Civil Liberties Union
  9. American Federation of Teachers
  10. American Medical Student Association
  11. American Psychological Association
  12. American Public Health Association
  13. American Sexual Health Association
  14. Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
  15. Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
  16. Association for Middle Level Education (formerly National Middle School Association)
  17. Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
  18. Break the Cycle
  19. Catholics for Choice
  20. CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy)
  21. Children's Advocacy Institute
  22. Community Action Partnership
  23. Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
  24. Dream Enterprises Health Education Services
  25. Equal Rights Advocates
  26. Faith for Change
  27. Feminist Majority Foundation
  28. First Focus Campaign for Children
  29. Friends Committee on National Legislation
  30. Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
  31. Global Justice Institute
  32. Healthy Teen Network
  33. Human Rights Project for Girls
  34. League of United Latin American Citizens
  35. Methodist Federation for Social Action
  36. Metropolitan Community Churches
  37. Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
  38. Ms. Foundation for Women
  39. NAACP
  40. NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc.
  41. National Association for Bilingual Education
  42. National Association for Children's Behavioral Health
  43. National Association of Counsel for Children
  44. National Association of Secondary School Principals
  45. National Center for Law and Economic Justice
  46. National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc
  47. National Council of Jewish Women
  48. National Council of La Raza
  49. National Crittenton Foundation
  50. National Education Association
  51. National Indian Education Association
  52. National Network for Youth
  53. National Organization for Women
  54. National Urban League
  55. National Women's Conference Committee
  56. National Women’s Law Center
  57. Our Bodies Ourselves
  58. People For the American Way
  59. Physicians for Reproductive Health
  60. Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  61. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
  62. Public Justice Center
  63. Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  64. Religious Institute
  65. RESULTS
  66. Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
  67. School Social Work Association of America
  68. Sexuality Education and Information Council of the United States
  69. Sisters of Charity Nazareth Central Leadership
  70. Smart Stop Learning Center
  71. Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
  72. Teen Success
  73. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
  74. The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
  75. Unitarian Universalist Association
  76. Women of Reform Judaism
  77. Women's Law Project
  78. Women's Sports Foundation
  79. World Knowledge Bank
  80. YWCA USA
  81. Youth Activism Project

 

State and Local Organizations

  1. Arizona Collaborative for Adolescent Health
  2. California Center for Rural Policy
  3. California WIC Association
  4. Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth (CA)
  5. National Council of Jewish Women-California
  6. TeenNow California
  7. Brighter Beginnings (Oakland, CA)
  8. Clinica Sierra Vista (Bakersfield, CA)
  9. Dependency Legal Group of San Diego (CA)
  10. Great Beginnings for Black Babies (Inglewood, CA)
  11. Hillsides (Los Angeles, CA)
  12. Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco (CA)
  13. Los Angeles Community Legal Center and Educational (CA)
  14. New Voices Are Rising Project (Oakland, CA)
  15. Restorative Schools Vision Project (Sacramento, CA)
  16. Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment (Oakland, CA)
  17. San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CA)
  18. Watts/Century Latino Organization (Los Angeles, CA)
  19. Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights
  20. Colorado Youth Matter
  21. Florence Crittenton Services of Colorado
  22. Advocacy Denver (CO)
  23. Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (CT)
  24. Mansfield Housing Authority (CT)
  25. DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
  26. RESULTS DC
  27. Florida Association for Infant Mental Health
  28. Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc.
  29. Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County (Manatee County, FL)
  30. Georgia Women for a Change
  31. Social Justice Guild of the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta (GA)
  32. Hawaii Youth Services Network
  33. Centro de Comunidad y Justicia (Boise, ID)
  34. Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
  35. Alternatives (Chicago, IL)
  36. Arab American Family Services (Bridgeview, IL)
  37. Civitas ChildLaw Center, Loyola University Chicago School of Law (IL)
  38. Chicago Child Care Society (IL)
  39. Marillac House (Chicago, IL)
  40. Women Employed (Chicago, IL)
  41. Child and Family Policy Center (IA)
  42. EyesOpenIowa
  43. Crisis Center & Women's Shelter (Ottumwa, IA)
  44. Southwest Iowa Latino Resource Center
  45. GWIA (God's Will In Action) (Kansas City area, KS and MO
  46. WISDOM (Well-Instructed Students Devoted to Our Messiah) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  47. KAPCHS (Kingsway Academy Private Christian High School) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  48. CSH (Career Search Hotline) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  49. CPIBT (Committee to Preserve Independence Bus Transit) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  50. CACTF (Citizens Alternative Crime Task Force) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  51. SSL (South Sea Linden) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  52. PAL (Platform for Affordable Livability) (Kansas City, KS and MO)
  53. Kentucky Youth Advocates
  54. Louisiana Housing Alliance
  55. Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore (MD)
  56. PeterCares House (Greenbelt, MD)
  57. Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
  58. Michigan’s Children
  59. Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health
  60. Work Services Inc (Jackson, MI)
  61. Minnesota AIDS Project
  62. Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
  63. Litchfield Public Schools #465 Early Childhood Programs (MN)
  64. Nollie Jenkins Family Life Center, Inc. (Lexington, MS)
  65. Center for People in Need (Lincoln, NE)
  66. Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Justice Team (NE)
  67. Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada 
  68. Education Law Center (NJ)
  69. Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (NJ)
  70. New Mexico Alliance for School Based Health Care
  71. New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition
  72. New Mexico Voices for Children
  73. Southwest Women’s Law Center (NM)
  74. Young Women United (NM)                         
  75. Honor Our Pueblo Existence (H.O.P.E.) (Espanola, NM)
  76. Brooklyn Young Mothers Collective (NY)
  77. Inwood House (New York, NY)
  78. NMPP/Community Health Worker Program (New York, NY)
  79. Student Advocacy (Westchester and Putnam Counties, NY)
  80. Action for Children North Carolina
  81. Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina
  82. YWCA Greensboro (NC)
  83. Ohio Chapter of the National Organization for Women
  84. Ohio NOW and Education and Legal Fund
  85. Democratic Socialists of Central Ohio
  86. Northeast Ohio Legal Services
  87. AFT-Oklahoma
  88. SMART (Single Mother Academic Resource Team) (OK)
  89. Pennsylvania Council of Churches
  90. Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (Natrona Heights, PA)
  91. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (PA)
  92. International Institute for Restorative Practices (Bethlehem, PA)
  93. Juvenile Law Center (Philadelphia, PA)
  94. Maternity Care Coalition (Philadelphia, PA)
  95. SEIU Local 668 (Harrisburg, PA)
  96. Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association (RI)
  97. South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
  98. Malcolm X Center for Self Determination (Greenville, SC)
  99. Healthy and Free Tennessee
    1. Cornucopia Network/NJ/TN Chapter, Caney Fork Headwaters Association, Cumberland Countians for Peace & Justice Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility Of United Church of Christ (Pleasant Hill, TN)
  100. CHOICES (Memphis, TN)
  101. Memphis Teen Vision (TN)
  102. Texans Care for Children
  103. Texas Association Concerned with School-Age Parenthood
  104. Education Equals Making Community Connections (Plantersville, TX)
  105. North Dallas Chapter of National Organization for Women (Plano/Dallas, TX)
  106. Voices for Vermont's Children
  107. Virginia Organizing
  108. Lewis County Family Resource Network (WV)
application/pdf iconPPSAE Fact Sheet
application/pdf iconPPSAE Bill Text - S. 870
application/pdf iconPPSAE Bill Text - H.R. 1845
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