The Buckingham

Photo Credit: www.mommyish.com

A new policy involving teenage pregnancy at a charter school in Louisiana has caused a lot of controversy.

Delhi Charter School in Delhi, La. has a new policy which states that students who are suspected of being pregnant must take pregnancy tests, and if they refuse or test positive, they will be kicked out of the school.  It also states that students “determined to be pregnant,” but want to remain enrolled can pursue home studies.

The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that officials at the school change their policy, as it is a “clear violation of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.”

Executive director of the ACLU, Marjorie R. Esman, discussed with website Mother Jones that she had not been aware of the policy until this summer.

“I am not aware of anything else like this.  This is so blatantly illegal and discriminatory.  This is about as draconian as anything I have ever seen,” Esman said.

In a letter sent to the Delhi’s principals and board chairman, the ACLU has threatened legal action if the school does not revise their policy.

Esman wrote that the policy violates female students and discriminates them based on sex alone.  Only girls are targeted with this policy, and boys who are suspected of having sex are not punished.

Principal Chris Broussard has responded to the complaint by stating that he will review the policy with a local law firm.