Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination Against Pregnant Teenager at M.S./P.S. 29 in Melrose
Student Faced Harassment, Negligence After Becoming Pregnant at 14
A Bronx mother has filed a federal lawsuit against the New York City Department of Education (DOE), alleging that her 14-year-old daughter faced discrimination, harassment, and negligence after becoming pregnant.
Background
The student, referred to as N.S. in the suit, was a diligent student at M.S./P.S. 29 in the Melrose neighborhood. She discovered she was pregnant at the start of the 2023-2024 school year and requested accommodations from the school, including bathroom breaks and access to food and water during class.
Accommodation Requests Ignored
The student’s accommodation requests were granted by the school, but the complaint alleges that teachers did not abide by them. According to the lawsuit, teachers continued to deny her bathroom access and, on one occasion, forcibly removed food from her desk in front of other students.
Harassment and Non-Compliance
The complaint also states that N.S. told school administrators to keep the pregnancy a secret for as long as possible, but they failed to maintain confidentiality and even perpetuated the harassment. For example, when N.S. and her mother reported that a fellow student made fun of the pregnancy and asked her to perform sexual favors, an administrator replied, "Ha! Ha! My family and I are still laughing about [the harasser’s] strange and random comment."
Failure to Address Harassment and Negligence
The student and her mother claim that they tried working with the DOE Title IX office, but both the office and school administration took little action to address the harassment and provide necessary accommodations. As a result, the student was forced to enroll in the DOE’s Home Instruction Program, which did not offer the same rigorous courses and was "fraught with technical difficulties and quality issues."
Conclusion
The situation has had a significant impact on N.S.’s education, causing her to fall behind and suffer "severe emotional distress." The lawsuit aims to hold the DOE accountable for violating the New York State Human Rights Law and federal Title IX, which protects students from sex discrimination, including pregnancy status, at schools receiving federal funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit aims to hold the DOE accountable for violating the New York State Human Rights Law and federal Title IX, which protects students from sex discrimination, including pregnancy status, at schools receiving federal funding.
Q: What are the allegations in the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit alleges that the student faced harassment, negligence, and discrimination after becoming pregnant at 14, and that the school and DOE failed to provide necessary accommodations and address the harassment.
Q: What is the outcome of the lawsuit?
A: The case is ongoing, with the DOE requesting an extension to respond to the complaint. The response is due April 4.
Q: What does the lawsuit hope to achieve?
A: The lawsuit hopes to prevent other pregnant students from suffering the same harm and to ensure that students are protected from discrimination and harassment.
