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Zapata County ISD

Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders

Pregnancy Related Services

Logo for Zapata County Independent School District Pregnancy Related Services, featuring a pregnant person and a heart.

Pregnancy Related Services

Supporting Students. Promoting Success. Building Brighter Futures. 

At Zapata County Independent School District (ZCISD), we understand that pregnancy and childbirth can bring many changes and challenges for students. Our Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) Program provides support and educational services to help pregnant and parenting students continue their education, maintain academic progress, and successfully return to school.

PRS includes two main types of services: Support Services and Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI).

What Services Are Available?

1. Support Services

Support Services help students manage the academic, physical, and emotional challenges associated with pregnancy and childbirth. These services may be available during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including times when a student receives home instruction because of a medical need or recovery from delivery.

Services may include:

  • Counseling: Support for emotional well-being and personal needs.

  • School Health Services: Assistance and support provided by the school nurse.

  • Case Management: Help identifying student needs and connecting families with appropriate resources.

  • Service Coordination: Communication and coordination among the student, family, school staff, and other service providers.

2. Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI)

CEHI provides academic instruction at home or in a hospital when a student cannot attend school in person under qualifying circumstances related to pregnancy or childbirth.

A certified teacher provides instruction based on the student's individual educational needs. The number of instructional hours per week varies according to the student's circumstances and applicable Texas Education Agency (TEA) requirements.

When Can a Student Receive CEHI?

Students may qualify for CEHI under the following circumstances:

1. Prenatal Confinement (Before Delivery)

A pregnant student who cannot attend school because of a valid medical necessity may qualify for home instruction. The medical necessity must be documented by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner authorized to practice in the United States. A medical release is required before the student returns to campus, including for standardized testing. There is no set limit on the number or length of qualifying prenatal confinement periods.

2. Postpartum Confinement (After Delivery or Pregnancy Loss)

A student may receive CEHI for up to six consecutive weeks, beginning on the day of or the day after the qualifying event. This may include situations involving delivery of a live or stillborn baby, miscarriage, the death of a newborn, or placing a baby for adoption.

3. Extended Postpartum Confinement

An additional four weeks of CEHI may be available when a valid medical necessity involving the mother or child is documented by a licensed physician authorized to practice in the United States.

4. Break-in-Service Confinement

When an infant remains hospitalized after delivery, CEHI may be provided in two separate periods, for a combined maximum of ten weeks under this provision. The student may return to campus while the infant remains hospitalized and resume CEHI when the infant comes home, if the applicable requirements are met. The student will not be coded as receiving PRS during the period of campus attendance between the two service periods. A medical release is required before returning to campus.

Our Commit­ment to Students and Families

ZCISD is committed to helping pregnant and parenting students continue their education and work toward graduation. Through individualized academic instruction, school-based support, and connections to appropriate resources, the PRS Program helps students navigate this important stage of life while keeping their educational goals on track.