Pregnant & Parent Resources
Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972, is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status— in any federally funded education program or activity. All public and private schools, school districts, colleges, and universities receiving any Federal funds (“schools”) must comply with Title IX.
Student Rights
Students who are pregnant or parenting have certain rights under Title IX including:
- Allow you to continue participating in classes and extracurricular
- Provide you with reasonable adjustments, like a larger desk, elevator access, or allowing you to make frequent trips to the restroom, when necessary because of your pregnancy.
- Excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is necessary.
- Allow you to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before your medical leave began, which should include giving you the opportunity to make up any work missed while you were out.
- Provide pregnant students with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions.
- Protect you from harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions. Comments that could constitute prohibited harassment include making sexual comments or jokes about your pregnancy, calling you sexually charged names, spreading rumors about your sexual activity, and making sexual propositions or gestures, if the comments are sufficiently serious that it interferes with your ability to benefit from or participate in your school’s program.
