Legislative record

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ATTENDANCE AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS.

This Act mandates that all schools receiving approval or financial assistance from the State provide parenting and pregnant students with the following protections: 1. Excused absences for pregnancy related events. 2. Excused absences for health-related needs or illnesses associated with pregnancy. 3. Six weeks of excused absences for students giving birth to a child, immediately following delivery. 4. Excused absences for medical appointments for a student’s child. 5. Excused absences for court appearances related to the student’s child or the pregnant student. This Act further provides for accommodations to a pregnant or parenting student by allowing for the following: 1. For a lactating student, the student must have access to a private, clean, and secure room to express milk and any other associated equipment needed for lactation. 2. Access to equipment or transportation services. 3. Modifications to a student’s schedule or coursework. 4. Reasonable academic supports. 5. Accommodations to assist parenting students. Any accommodations need not be accepted by the student, if they do not wish to receive the accommodation. A student who receives any accommodations may not be academically penalized for it. Furthermore, at the conclusion of a pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting event, the school must allow the student to make up the work and allow the student the same opportunity to do so, as any other student would receive due to an illness. The Act prohibits a school from requiring a student to provide medical documentation for an absence or accommodation, unless explicitly provided for by this Act. This Act will be implemented on July 1, 2026.