Title IX prohibits federally funded educational institutions-- from elementary to university level-- from discriminating against students or employees based on sex. Title IX applies to pregnant and parenting students. It prohibits discrimination against pregnant and parenting students and protects their right to an education equal to their peers. Although Title IX has improved opportunities for female students and is credited with decreasing the dropout rate of girls from high school, this same progress does not ring true for pregnant and parenting students. Fifty years after the passage of Title IX, the dropout rate for this student population is still 50%. This is in large part because educational barriers exist that push students out of school and schools are in direct violation of Title IX. What if those educational barriers exist at your school? What if your school is in direct violation of Title IX? Wouldn't you want to know? Helping Teen Moms Graduate will help make sure your school is in compliance and will help you to learn practical strategies for reducing the dropout rate for this student population.
Christine M. Stroble, PhD, is an educator and researcher whose area of focus is improving education for pregnant and parenting students. She is also the founder of Teen Moms Anonymous, a support group and recovery program for teen moms who are trauma survivors.
Preface Introduction Chapter 1 Don't Judge Chapter 2 Enforce the Law Chapter 3 Support from Home Matters Chapter 4 Support from School Matters Chapter 5 Support from the Community Matters Chapter 6 A Message to Teen Moms Bibliography About the Author
Written with a great deal of grace and insights, Helping Teen Moms Graduate provides rich narratives and helpful strategies for educators of teen mothers. This is a useful text and it should be explored without judgement, but instead, with care and openness. It helps to address a lesser explored issue in secondary education. -- Greg Wiggan, Professor of Urban Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Becoming pregnant or a parent does not need to derail a student's education. Helping Teen Moms Graduate expertly highlights the unique barriers and discrimination pregnant and parenting teens face without further stigmatizing this population. By centering their voices, Dr. Stroble provides a much-needed roadmap for advocates, teachers, and other trusted community members to help pregnant and parenting teens thrive in school. -- Cassandra Mensah, Counsel at the National Women's Law Center In order to help teen moms graduate, we don't need more statistics and simplistic how-to guides or checklists; we need to listen to the voices and experiences of teen moms themselves. Dr. Stroble does an expert job of elevating the voices of teen moms woven between statistics, evidence-based programs, and real solutions to helping teen moms graduate. If you really want to know how to support a teen mom, you've got the right book in your hands and I suggest you start with her first suggestion: Don't Judge. -- Amanda Moon, Direct of Prevention & Outreach, Safe Habor, Callahan, MA
