The Teen Parent Program (TPP) is a voluntary program that offers pregnant students and teen parents the opportunity to become responsible parents and complete requirements for graduation while receiving support services such as child care, health, social services, and transportation. Teen Parent Programs are offered through High School Programs, Dropout Prevention/Alternative Education, and some Charter School Programs. Florida Virtual High School also offers the Parenting Skills course.
All participants in TPP must take at least one child development course or parenting course while continuing to earn credits toward a standard or special diploma. Students who have completed a TPP program continue to receive services if they stay in school and continue to earn credit toward graduation. In the 2012-2013 school year, the Teen Parent Program served a total of 365 students in the District - 16 middle school students and 349 high school students.
The Teen Parent Program provides child care services to teen parents while they complete their high school diploma program. Last year child care services were provided at licensed early childhood care centers and
licensed family child care homes for 231
children of teen parents. The School District
of Palm Beach County and the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County work together to assist students who need child care for their young children.
The School District of Palm Beach County has participated in the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancies for the past five years. Students are encouraged to go to the PBCTeens.org website and take the quiz. The purpose of the campaign is to bring attention to preventing teen pregnancy and the fact that sex has consequences.
As part of the campaign, County Commissioner of District 6 - Jess R. Santamaria presented a proclamation at the May 7, 2013, Board of County Commissioners meeting declaring May 2013 as the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Accepting the proclamation were: Amy Crease, a resource teacher with the Teen Parent Program of the School District’s Student Intervention Services Department, Nikevia Isom and Shavel Brown, students of Boynton Beach Community High School, and Marsha Guthrie, program officer with the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.
“Parenthood is a leading cause of school dropout among teen girls” (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, March 2010).