CONGRESSMAN Jared Polis 2nd DISTRICT OF COLORADO

To reduce the high rate of school dropouts among pregnant teens, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) today introduced legislation that would help new and expecting teen parents complete their high school degrees. The bill—entitled the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act—would ensure that these students receive the educational guidance and social services they need to continue in school and get their diploma.

“Success in finding a job begins with achieving a high school diploma, yet too many students see their journey toward graduation cut short by an unplanned pregnancy,” said Polis. “Our legislation will help students meet the challenge of both parenting and completing high school, which will give them a better chance at finding a job and supporting their new families. Teen pregnancies and parenting are key factors in America’s school dropout crisis, which is why this bill is essential to keeping these young people on track to receive a diploma.”

“Every student deserves the chance to complete high school and go on to college,” added Chu. “Unfortunately, many teen parents, especially students of color, drop out because they don’t receive the support they need to take care of a family and go to school. I am proud to work with Congressman Polis to introduce a bill that provides teen parents academic support services, parenting and life skills to complete school and succeed. By helping teen parents complete high school and go on to college, we help them, their children and our nation’s workforce.”

“The stakes are extremely high for pregnant and parenting students,” said Fatima Goss Graves, the National Women’s Law Center’s vice-president of educational and employment opportunities. “Without a high school diploma, their prospects for further education and earning a living wage are unlikely and their children are also more likely to drop out of school. It’s critical that we remove the obstacles that many pregnant and parenting students face in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school.”

Every year in America, approximately 400,000 teenage girls give birth. With each pregnancy, the new mother becomes increasingly at risk of dropping out of school—and their child is more likely to become a dropout as well. Only half of teen mothers achieve a high school diploma by age 22, compared to 89 percent of their childless peers.

In a nationwide survey of dropout youth, close to half of all female dropouts and one-third of male dropouts said that becoming a parent played a role in their decision to leave school. This dropout crisis has severe short- and long-term consequences for the economic success and well-being of their families and communities, as well as our nation.

To address this crisis, the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act would:

• Enable states to create a 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.
• Establish a state coordinator and school district liaisons for the education of pregnant and parenting students.
• Require 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.
• Allow districts to provide parenting and life skills classes; case management services; pregnancy prevention interventions; referrals to primary health care, family planning, mental health, substance abuse, housing assistance, legal aid, mentoring, or other supportive services needed by students; and to address school climate issues, including illegal discrimination against and stigmatization of pregnant and parenting students.
• Collect and report data on pregnant and parenting students annually, including educational outcomes, and require a rigorous evaluation of the program.

The bill would authorize $100 million in FY 2012 and such sums as necessary for FY 2013-2016.

The bill is endorsed by the National Women’s Law Center, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and the Healthy Teen Network.