ALL young people in Texas have the right to a public school education. Most are required by law to go to school from age six through age seventeen or until high-school graduation.
You cannot be forced to leave your school or ANY educational program because you are pregnant, because you are a parent, or because you have had an abortion. This includes both special classes, like Honors or AP, and extracurricular activities, like band, Latin Club or dance team.
Your school may ask you to provide a doctor's note stating that you are able to participate in school, but ONLY if it requires a note from all students, not just pregnant or parenting students. If your school does not require a doctor's note from all students with medical conditions, it may not require a note from pregnant or parenting students.
Some school districts get extra money from the State of Texas for pregnancy-related services. This extra money is given in order to help meet the special needs that pregnant students have. Pregnancy-related services can include childcare, counseling, transportation, and health care. If it is medically necessary during your pregnancy and/or during the recovery period after your delivery, school districts that get this money are required to provide you with home-based instruction.
If you are pregnant and your school is trying to force you to leave, blocking you from taking classes you want to take, or not allowing you to participate in certain school activities, this section of the website will help you understand your legal rights. If you feel that you need legal assistance, you can call the Jane's Due Process legal hotline at 1-866-www-jane or 1-866-999-5263.
