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Committee accepts PSBA draft on accommodations for pregnant students; two readings planned
Summary
The policy committee reviewed a Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) draft policy on pregnant students' accommodations, agreed it provides reasonable accommodations, and directed the administration to proceed with the two readings required for adoption.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The policy committee reviewed a PSBA‑recommended policy on accommodations for pregnant and parenting students and signaled support for moving the draft through the board’s two‑reading adoption process in May.
The draft policy lists a range of voluntary accommodations: breaks in class for restroom/food, intermittent absences for medical appointments, voluntary leave of absence, online or homebound instruction, schedule or course‑sequence changes, deadline extensions, lactation facilities, counseling, and flexibility on sitting or standing. The administration said the district does not anticipate frequent use but wants ready procedures.
“Anyone who’s been pregnant probably understands that one — the ability to get up and move around if you need to,” the committee chair said while outlining the PSBA draft. The committee agreed the draft checks “every box” for reasonable modifications and noted it would require two readings before adoption.
Committee members asked whether accommodations such as excusal from physical education would be covered. The administration responded that changes in schedule could accommodate such requests and that the draft explicitly allows schedule or course‑sequence adjustments.
The administration said adoption will follow the PSBA template and that the policy would be scheduled for two readings in May and take effect after the May 19 meeting, with one participant noting the effective date could technically be May 20 depending on procedural timing.
The committee did not take a formal roll call vote at the meeting; members present voiced support for proceeding with the two‑reading process and the administration will place the draft on the May agenda.
