Howard County (Map, News) - Howard school officials must have proof of a student’s pregnancy before notifying the parents, according to a School Board-approved policy revision.

“Most of the changes dealt with concerns about how you deal with students who might be pregnant,” said Board Vice Chairwoman Ellen Flynn Giles at Thursday’s meeting.

“Nothing happens, in terms of parent notification, until the pregnancy is confirmed or a student confirms it.”

According to the policy’s new wording, “an employee who has reason to believe that a student is pregnant should notify the school counselor and/or nurse, who, following confirmation, will notify the principal as needed...”

The parents can be notified only with confirmation of the pregnancy, Giles said.

Several health professionals recently opposed the previous “confidentiality and disclosure” section: “When there is a risk to the student or others, information shared in confidence by students to staff will be divulged to principals, to others who by their training or licensure are able to provide immediate appropriate assistance, and to parents.”

They said students might delay seeking important medical care if their parents knew they were pregnant.

“I think it’s a very much either-or situation — You can’t be in the middle of the road on it,” said Board Chairman Frank Aquino.

“The edits made it clear, easier to implement.”

The disputed section is part of the policy that officially recognizes parenting services for the father, as well as the pregnant mothers.

The policy goes into effect July 1.

BY THE NUMBERS

In 2006, 103 babies were born to Howard County women between 15 and 19.

The Howard school system’s teen parenting program served 55 students in 2006-07.

Source: Howard County Health Department and Howard school system

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com