Capital High Parenting Experiences and Supports for Young Parents

• In Event: In Their Own Words: Young Parents' Experiences With Education and a Call to Action for Education Stakeholders

Abstract

Young parents are problematized in U.S. society. This stigmatization occurs in peer-reviewed journal articles, newspaper articles, and policy where young mothers are described as a burden on taxpayers (Breheny & Stephens, 2010; Brouwer et al., 2019), harsh and regret-filled parents (East et al., 2012; Lee, 2009), and problems in the sphere of social welfare or health and are rarely situated in educational spaces (David, 2014; Pillow, 2004). Alternative schooling programs are one of the ways in which youth mothers are included in education. In this presentation, Jessie Loeb, lead teacher and program organizer will describe one alternative schooling program—Capital High Parenting (CHP)—that provides a supportive environment for young parents. She will also describe barriers experienced by CHP stakeholders and educators who are supporting young parenting students.

Background and Capital High Parenting
Schooling—including alternative schooling—for young parents was impacted by Title IX, passed in 1972. This pivotal law asserted that schools had to provide equal educational opportunity for young mothers and these mothers could no longer be removed from schools unless they voluntarily enrolled in an alternative setting (Pillow, 2004). Despite this law, young mothers have received different experiences than their peers. For example, school personnel sometimes do not advise them of college options (SmithBattle, 2007). And while schools cannot legally expel them, students are sometimes pushed out of college preparatory programming (Baldridge, 2019) or other important programming.

Despite some challenging experiences, some alternative school models can be helpful and these schools exist across the nation. One research study found that alternative school models provide health benefits, improve parenting skills, and provide further educational opportunities (Brouwer et al., 2019). A strong example of an alternative schooling model that provides a safe, trusting environment for pregnant and parenting students is Capital High Parenting (CHP) in Madison, WI. It offers small class sizes and individualized learning in a strong cohesive community. The typical young parent at CHP is a student of color and low-income. CHP emphasizes healthy mother and child development through positive relationships while providing opportunities for empowerment and responsibility. This transitional program allows pregnant and parenting students of any age to learn prenatal care, childbirth and parenting skills while continuing their core curriculum in a non-threatening environment.

Beyond the supportive, loving setting created by CHP, this high school program provides important basic needs such as on-site child care—available through an Early Head Start facility—and taxi transportation to and from school for the moms and their children. CHP also partners with local organizations to provide opportunities for connection. Beyond Beautiful is a curriculum by a local physician and motivational speaker who created a book and additional resources for young adolescents. This Black author speaks with the young moms in Capital High each month about resilience, beauty, and courage and represents an example for many of the moms to look up to. In addition, CHP partners with a local arts center where each of the young moms write a lullaby for their child that is performed by a group of singers and instrumentalists.

Author

• Jessie Loeb
  Presenting Author