Sec. 4. Local educational agency subgrants for the education of pregnant and parenting students
1,174 words·~5 min read·
/bill/113/s/870/is/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
A State educational agency receiving a grant under section 3 shall make competitive subgrants to local educational agencies for the purpose of facilitating the enrollment, attendance, and success in school of pregnant and parenting students. Services may be provided on school grounds or at other facilities. Local educational agencies seeking subgrants shall submit an application to the State educational agency in time and manner required by the State. The application shall include— an assessment of the educational and related needs of pregnant and parenting students in the local educational agency; a description of the local educational agency’s plan for addressing those needs, and assurance that the specific services and programs for which subgrants are being sought are culturally and linguistically competent; assurance of the local educational agency’s compliance with local educational agency requirements established in section 3; and a description of the local educational agency’s plan for continuing specific services and programs for which subgrants are being sought in case of the loss of or absence of Federal assistance.
Subgrants under this section shall be awarded on the basis of need and the strength of the application in meeting the requirements and goals of this Act. Priority consideration shall be given to applications from local educational agencies serving students in geographic areas with— teen birth rates that are higher than the State average; or teen birth rates below the State average but having one or more racial or ethnic groups with teen birth rates higher than the State average.
Subgrants under this section shall be for periods not to exceed 3 years. Subgrant funds shall be expended for activities that include— the provision of academic support services for pregnant and parenting students, which may include, but are not limited to academic counseling, the development of individualized graduation plans, assistance with class scheduling, assistance with planning for and gaining access to postsecondary educational opportunities, assistance securing tutoring or other academic support services, supplemental instruction, homework assistance, tutoring, or other educational services, such as homebound instruction services to be provided during extended leaves of absence due to pregnancy complications, childbirth, or the illness of a student’s child, to keep the student on track to finish the student’s classes and graduate; assistance to pregnant and parenting students in gaining access to quality, affordable child care and early childhood education services; the provision of transportation services or assistance so that parenting students and their children can get to and from school and child care, respectively, and so that pregnant students unable to walk long distances can get to school if transportation is not already provided for that student; the provision of services and programs to attract, engage, and retain pregnant and parenting students in school, including informing pregnant and parenting teenagers and their family members and caring adults of their right to continue their education, the importance of doing so, and the consequences of not doing so; the education of students, parents and community members about the educational rights of pregnant and parenting students; the professional development of school personnel regarding the challenges facing pregnant and parenting students and their educational rights; proactive outreach efforts to assist pregnant and parenting teenagers with excessive absences and to re-enroll pregnant or parenting teenagers who have dropped out of school; the revision of school policies and practices to remove barriers and to encourage pregnant and parenting students to continue their education, including— the revision of attendance policies to allow for students to be excused from school, school activities, after-school activities, or school-related programs for— attendance at pregnancy-related medical appointments, including expectant fathers who are students; fulfillment of the student’s parenting responsibilities, including arranging child care, caring for the student’s sick child or children, and attending medical appointments for the student’s child or children; and such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each local educational agency, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to student or the student’s parent for the safety or health of the student, for example addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence; and the creation and implementation of a policy flexible enough to meet the individualized lactation and medical needs of student mothers, including reasonable break time from class, access to a clean, private space and protection from retaliation for this purpose; the provision to student parents, and at a student’s request, also to a non-student parent or other family members and caring adults, of training and support in parenting skills, healthy relationship skills, strategies to prevent future unplanned pregnancy, and other life skills such as goal setting, budgeting, time management, financial literacy, networking, job interviewing, applying for college and securing financial aid; and the provision to pregnant and parenting students of educational and career mentoring services and peer groups, whether during school hours or after school.
Subgrant funds may be expended for allowable activities such as— the provision of child care and early childhood education for the child of the parenting student, either by providing these services directly on school grounds or by other arrangement, such as by providing financial assistance to obtain such services at a child care facility within a reasonable distance of the school; the provision of case management services to pregnant and parenting students, such as assistance with applying for and accessing public benefits and Federal financial aid for postsecondary education and training; the provision of, or referrals to, pregnancy prevention, primary health care, maternal and child health, family planning, mental health, substance abuse, housing assistance, homeless assistance, legal aid services, including paternity testing, establishing parental rights, child custody arrangements, and other services needed by the student; the provision of emergency financial or in-kind assistance to a parenting student to fulfill the basic human needs of a student and the student’s child; efforts to create a positive school climate for pregnant and parenting students, including addressing discrimination against, harassment and stigmatization of pregnant and parenting students; and the provision of training practicums for graduate students in social work to carry out the purpose of the grant.
With respect to information provided under paragraph (1)(C) and subsection (e)(9), whether provided by local educational agencies or by contract or arrangement as described in subsection (g), the information shall be, where appropriate, medically accurate and complete and developmentally appropriate for the intended audience. For purposes of this paragraph, the term medically accurate and complete means verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and— published in peer-reviewed journals, where applicable; or comprising information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete.
Local educational agencies may provide and expend subgrant funds on required activities authorized in subsection
(e)or allowable activities authorized in subsection
(f)directly or by contract or arrangement with social services agencies, public health agencies, youth services providers, or other nonprofit community-based organizations with experience effectively assisting pregnant and parenting students to stay in school by conducting the activities described in subsections
(e)and (f).