Bill Text: CA AB2289 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Pupil rights: pregnant and parenting pupils.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 942, Statutes of 2018. [AB2289 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2289-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2289

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Introduced by Assembly Member Weber

February 13, 2018

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An act to amend Sections 48205, 48206.3, and 48208 of, and to add Sections 222.5 and 46015 to, the Education Code, relating to pupil rights.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2289, as introduced, Weber. Pupil rights: pregnant and parenting pupils.

(1) Existing law requires a pupil to be excused from school for specified types of absences and prohibits those excused absences from generating state apportionment payments by deeming them as absences in computing average daily attendance.

This bill would include as another type of excused absence, 4 absences per school year to care for a sick child, for which the school is prohibited from requiring a note from a doctor. The bill would require a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to allow a parenting pupil who gives or expects to give birth up to 6 weeks of parental leave or 8 weeks of parental leave for a caesarian section birth or birth with complications, and to allow a parenting pupil not giving birth up to 4 weeks of parental leave after the birth. The bill would specify that parental leave absences shall not be deemed absences in computing average daily attendance if the governing board of the school district or county office of education or the governing body of the charter school of attendance files with the State Department of Education an expectant and parenting pupil policy that includes procedures for ensuring pupils are provided with schoolwork while on parental leave.

(2) Existing state regulations require an educational institution to treat pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and recovery from those conditions in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disability. Existing law requires a school district that receives notification of a pupil’s temporary disability to determine whether the pupil will be able to receive individualized instruction and, if the determination is positive, to provide the individualized instruction, as specified.

This bill would require a school district to provide a pupil with a temporary disability as a result of pregnancy with guidelines for makeup work plan development if the option for individualized instruction is not available at the pupil’s school or school district.

(3) Existing law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, or other specified characteristics in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls pupils who receive state financial aid.

This bill would require a school district to notify pregnant and parenting pupils of specified rights and options available to those pupils, as specified.

(4) To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on schools of school districts and county offices of education, charter schools, and school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(5) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) In 2012, about 35,000 children were born to 15- to 19-year-olds in California. Nationwide, 70 percent of young parents are pushed out of school, and fewer than 4 in 10 young mothers graduate from high school by 18 years of age.

(b) Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.) and California law protect all pupils’ rights to equal educational opportunities regardless of sex, yet, only some of California’s school districts provide pregnant and parenting pupil programs.

(c) Pregnant and parenting pupils face overwhelming, system-enforced obstacles to graduating and receiving an education of equal quality to that of their peers that vary across school districts, and include all of the following:

(1) Inconsistent access to excused “family leave” absences to care for new infants during the critical period of early child development, with male parents often having no access.

(2) Involuntary pushout due to high absence rates related to pregnancy and parenting responsibilities.

(3) Rigid requirements to verify excused absences to care for a sick child.

(4) Allowed “reasonable” amount of time to make up work is defined by the school districts and not to the individual circumstances or to support a pupil’s goal to graduate.

(5) Varying levels of support and engagement from schools while pupils are absent.

(6) Encouragement to pursue independent study that may not fulfill the “A-G” admission requirements for the California State University and the University of California or have inconsistent and rigorous attendance policies.

(7) Parenting pupils’ lack of awareness of their rights under Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.) and California law, as well as pupils’ different educational options during pregnancy, postpartum, and as a parent.

(d) While California has an 80 percent high school graduation rate, only 38 percent of young moms who have a child before they are 18 years of age graduate from high school, 19 percent get a General Education Development (GED) credential, and only 2 percent go to college before 30 years of age.

(e) Educational challenges set the stage for economic hardship: The median income for women over 25 years of age without a high school degree is $15,021, less than 53 percent of that of their peers’ median income of $31,904.

(f) Nearly 60 percent of mothers under 19 years of age live in poverty.

(g) Children of teen mothers tend to struggle more in school, are less likely to complete high school, have lower performance on standardized tests, and are more likely to enter the foster care system and become teen parents themselves.

(h) Studies show that pregnancy can motivate pupils to complete school and pursue postsecondary education.

(i) Further, bonding time is critical for an infant’s long-term development and the well-being of parents. California has acknowledged the importance of bonding time and paved the way in supporting bonding within working families.

(j) Since 2004, workers have been entitled to up to six weeks of family leave to bond with their children. Working families benefit significantly from bonding time. Parenting pupils and their infants, some of our most vulnerable citizens, should not have to choose between their family and education.

SEC. 2.

 Section 222.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

222.5.

 A school district shall notify pregnant and parenting pupils of their rights and options available under the law through annual school year welcome packets issued pursuant to Section 48980, through independent study packets, and through postings online and in lactation rooms, locker rooms, and libraries.

SEC. 3.

 Section 46015 is added to the Education Code, to read:

46015.

 (a) A school shall allow a parenting pupil who gives or expects to give birth up to six weeks of parental leave or eight weeks of parental leave for a caesarian section birth or birth with complications, and shall allow a parenting pupil not giving birth up to four weeks of parental leave after the birth.

(b) (1) Absences allowed pursuant to this section shall not be deemed absences in computing average daily attendance pursuant to Section 42238.5 if the governing board of the school district or county office of education or the governing body of the charter school of attendance files an expectant and parenting pupil policy, including procedures for ensuring pupils are provided with schoolwork while on parental leave, with the department.

(2) An expectant and parenting pupil policy shall require a pupil to submit a parental leave request form, similar or the same as request forms used to request temporary disability time off, to the pupil’s school before the end of the pregnant pupil’s 32nd week of pregnancy. A school shall process a request within five business days and provide makeup work plan development process guidelines to a pupil in conjunction with the positive determination of parental leave.

(c) For purposes of this section, “school” includes a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school.

SEC. 4.

 Section 48205 of the Education Code is amended to read:

48205.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

(1) Due to the pupil’s illness.

(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.

(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent. parent, including up to four absences per school year to care for a sick child, for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.

(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

(10) For the purpose of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

(b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.

(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.

(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.

(e) “Immediate family,” as used in this section, has the same meaning as set forth in Section 45194, except that references therein to “employee” shall be deemed to be references to “pupil.”

SEC. 5.

 Section 48206.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:

48206.3.

 (a) Except for those pupils receiving individual instruction provided pursuant to Section 48206.5, a pupil with a temporary disability which that makes attendance in the regular day classes or alternative education program in which the pupil is enrolled impossible or inadvisable shall receive individual instruction provided by the district in which the pupil is deemed to reside.

(b) For purposes of this section and Sections 48206.5, 48207, and 48208, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Individual instruction” means instruction provided to an individual pupil in the pupil’s home, in a hospital or other residential health facility, excluding state hospitals, or under other circumstances prescribed by regulations adopted for that purpose by the State Board of Education. state board.

(2) “Temporary disability” means a physical, mental, or emotional disability incurred while a pupil is enrolled in regular day classes or an alternative education program, and after which the pupil can reasonably be expected to return to regular day classes or the alternative education program without special intervention. Temporary disability also includes pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and recovery therefrom. A temporary disability shall not include a disability for which a pupil is identified as an individual with exceptional needs pursuant to Section 56026.

(c) (1) For purposes of computing average daily attendance pursuant to Section 42238.5, each clock hour of teaching time devoted to individual instruction shall count as one day of attendance.

(2) No A pupil shall not be credited with more than five days of attendance per calendar week, or more than the total number of calendar days that regular classes are maintained by the district in any fiscal year.

(d) Notice of the availability of individualized instruction shall be given pursuant to Section 48980.

SEC. 6.

 Section 48208 of the Education Code is amended to read:

48208.

 (a) It shall be the primary responsibility of the parent or guardian of a pupil with a temporary disability to notify the school district in which the pupil is deemed to reside pursuant to Section 48207 of the pupil’s presence in a qualifying hospital. hospital, with notification before the end of the pupil’s 32nd week of pregnancy by a parent or guardian of a pupil with a temporary disability as a result of pregnancy.

(b) Upon receipt of notification pursuant to subdivision (a), a school district shall do all of the following:

(1) (A) Within five working days of receipt of the notification, determine whether the pupil will be able to receive individualized instruction, and, if the determination is positive, when the individualized instruction may commence. Individualized instruction shall commence no later than five working days after the positive determination has been rendered.

(B) A school district shall provide a pupil with a temporary disability as a result of pregnancy with guidelines for makeup work plan development if the option for individualized instruction is not available at the pupil’s school or school district.

(2) Provide the pupil with individualized instruction pursuant to Section 48206.3. The school district may enter into an agreement with the school district in which the pupil previously attended regular day classes or an alternative education program, to have the school district the pupil previously attended provide the pupil with individualized instruction pursuant to Section 48206.3.

(3) Within five working days of the commencement of individualized instruction, provide the school district in which the pupil previously attended regular day classes or an alternative education program with written notice that the pupil shall not be counted by that school district for purposes of computing average daily attendance pursuant to Section 42238.5, effective the date on which individualized instruction commenced.

SEC. 7.

  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.