Mandatory Pregnancy Testing?

Delhi Charter School in Delhi, Louisiana has been the focus of many blog commentaries. According to Think Progress, the school has had a lot of pregnant girls. However, the school charter forbids pregnant girls from attending this K-12 school. In order to uphold that policy, the school requires pregnancy testing of anyone suspected to be pregnant.

There are several problems with this line of thinking, and the ACLU has been involved with this case. First, there is the question of sex discrimination occurring within the school. The case somehow seems to suggest that girls, especially those who become pregnant, are less deserving of an education than their non-pregnant peers.

Second, the policy interprets a student who declines to take a pregnancy test as a pregnant individual evading the rules as opposed to an individual exerting her rights. The school thereby threatens to suspend and/or expel such students from the school. According to the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, such activity is in character with sex discrimination since boys cannot undergo the same repercussions.

Finally, because such a large number of individuals drop out of school once they become pregnant, the education gap between men and women is extended. This puts these young women at a distinct economic disadvantage when compared to their male peers.

What do you think about this case? Should schools – even charter or private schools – be allowed to create policies mandating pregnancy tests? Post your thoughts in the comments.