Close relationships

Title IX mandates that pregnant students, regardless of marital status, have the same rights and responsibilities as other students. Because social pressures on pregnant and parenting students to leave school still exists, schools have been required to develop responses to their needs. To examine these responses and subsequent programs from the viewpoint of educators, community members, and parenting adolescents, field studies were conducted in 11 school districts around the country. The programs were categorized into three types: (1) inclusive curriculum programs which offered general education and a range of special coursework and services; (2) supplementary curriculum programs that provide relevant coursework for credit in addition to regular classes; and (3) noncurricular programs which did not grant credit but did provide relevant instruction and other services. Site visits to two'exemplary, noncurricular programs revealed that the presence of motivated individuals who took the initiative to establish programs for pregnant students was critical for program success. Overall, however, the findings indicate that the generally passive response of schools to student pregnancy and parenthood reflects the widespread view that responsibility lies with the students rather than the school. (JAC) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made