School-Age Parents

Pregnant or parenting students face multiple, difficult challenges in their lives. Child care, education, employment, housing, health care, nutrition, and physical and emotional safety are all requisite conditions and/or services that must be present if pregnant or parenting students and their children are to be successful. The resources and links below are to help professionals working with pregnant and parenting teens ensure that their clients have access to all necessary services in these critical areas.

A school-age parent is any person under the age of 21 who is not a high school graduate and is a parent, an expectant parent, or a person who has been pregnant within the immediately preceding 120 (calendar) days. School districts are required by state law to make program modifications available to school-age parents, both mothers and fathers, which will allow them to continue their education (Wis. Stat. sec. 115.915). State law also prohibits public schools from denying admission to or participation in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational, or other program or activity based upon pregnancy or marital or parental status (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.13).

Any school board, CESA, or consortium of districts may establish a program for school-age parents and be eligible to receive state categorical aid to help offset some of the additional costs of serving school-age parents (Wis. Stat. sec. 115.92(1)). All requirements and guidelines within Chapter PI 19, Education for School-Age Parents, must be met in order for a district to be eligible for categorical aid. Special instruction and transportation costs are eligible for reimbursement. School districts submit annual budget and claim reports for school-age parent instruction and services via the Special Education Fiscal Report (PI 1505-SE).