Talking to Your School

Talking to Your School About Your Educational Rights

If you are pregnant or parenting and you want to continue your education, the law is on your side.  Remember, you need and deserve an education as much as anyone else.  State and federal laws both give you the right to an education regardless of whether you are pregnant, parenting, or have had an abortion.

Your school should work with you to make a plan for how you will continue your education through your pregnancy.

If talking to your school isn't working or if you need help talking to your school about issues related to your pregnancy, call the Jane's Due Process legal hotline at 1-866-www-jane (1-866-999-5263).

Talking to Your School in General

Your conversations and other communication (including letters, phone calls, and emails) with a teacher, principal, school nurse, school counselor, or any other school employee are NOT necessarily confidential.  Confidential means that no one else will be told about what you say.

Texas law requires ANY adult who thinks that a minor has been abused or neglected to tell the authorities.  This is a VERY broad requirment that includes people who might otherwise have to keep what you tell them confidential, like doctors, counselors, and even lawyers.  "Abuse" is defined very broadly.  A minor under 17 years of age who has any sexual contact, even with someone her own age and even if it was consensual, could be considered abused and the adult she told about that sexual activity would have to make a report.

People at your school can be a great source of support.  If you have questions about what kinds of things someone will keep confidential and what kinds of things they will report, ask them.