Pregnancy Related Services

Welcome to Pregnancy Related Services (PRS)

The Texas Education Agency’s Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) program is dedicated to supporting the academic success and well-being of pregnant and parenting students across Texas public schools. Housed within the Highly Mobile and At-Risk (HMAR) Student Programs Unit under the Office of Special Populations and Student Support (OSPSS), PRS provides guidance, resources, and support services that help students remain enrolled, engaged, and on track to graduate.

PRS includes both Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI)—a required academic support for eligible students during prenatal and postpartum periods—and a range of optional support services such as counseling, health services, transportation, and parenting education. These services are designed to address the unique challenges faced by pregnant and parenting students, ensuring they receive equitable access to education and the resources needed to thrive.

By empowering districts to implement comprehensive PRS programs, TEA aims to reduce dropout risks, promote student resilience, and foster long-term academic and personal success.

PRS Guidance

 

Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) are state-supported educational and support services designed to help pregnant and parenting students remain enrolled, engaged, and on track to graduate. These services include Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI) and may also include a range of optional support services. PRS is available during the pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum periods to address students’ academic, physical, and emotional needs.

When Are PRS Services Provided?

PRS services are delivered under the following circumstances:

• When a student is pregnant and attending classes on a district campus.
• When the pregnancy or prenatal period prevents the student from attending classes on a district campus.
• When the postpartum recovery period prevents the student from attending classes on a district campus.

District Participation and Requirements

• Voluntary Program: Districts may choose whether to offer a PRS program. However, if a district elects to provide PRS, it must include CEHI as a required component.
• Mandatory CEHI: CEHI is the only required service under PRS. A district may not code a student as PRS in the attendance accounting system unless CEHI is provided. Optional support services may be offered in addition to CEHI but cannot substitute for it.

Purpose and Impact

PRS programs are designed to help students:

• Maintain academic progress during pregnancy and recovery.
• Receive individualized instruction when unable to attend school.
• Access support services that promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Stay connected to school and reduce the risk of dropping out.

Under Texas Education Code §29.081(d), a student is considered at risk of dropping out if they are pregnant or is a parent. PRS helps address this risk by providing targeted interventions.

Funding and Documentation

• Weighted Funding: Districts receive 2.41 PRS weighted funding for each eligible day a student receives PRS services during the prenatal or postpartum periods.
• Documentation Requirements: To claim PRS-eligible days, districts must maintain accurate and complete records, including:
  • Verification of pregnancy by a qualified professional.
  • Medical documentation supporting the need for CEHI.
  • Certified teacher logs detailing CEHI instruction.
  • Records of service delivery and student attendance.

For detailed rules and operational guidance, refer to Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §129.1025 and the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook on the TEA website.

PRS Documentation Checklist Overview

This checklist is designed to support students participating in the Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) program, including those receiving Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI) during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. PRS aims to help students remain enrolled in school and successfully navigate academic, physical, and emotional challenges during this critical time.

The checklist serves as a practical tool for ensuring that all required documentation is complete, accurate, and aligned with state guidelines. Proper documentation is essential not only for compliance and funding purposes, but also for telling a clear, comprehensive story of the student’s experience and the support provided.

Use this checklist to:

• Track eligibility and service timelines.
• Verify required forms and medical documentation.
• Ensure CEHI instruction is properly logged and aligned with instructional goals.
• Maintain a consistent and supportive record of the student’s educational journey.

View End of Year Checklist

Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI)

Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI) is the mandatory academic service component of a district’s Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) program. CEHI ensures that eligible students continue to receive academic instruction when a documented medical necessity prevents them from attending classes on a district campus during the pregnancy, prenatal, or postpartum periods.

Key Features of CEHI

• Instructional Setting: CEHI is delivered face-to-face by a certified teacher at the student’s home or hospital bedside. This ensures continuity of instruction and supports academic progress during periods of medically necessary confinement.
• Certified Personnel: CEHI must be provided by a certified teacher employed by the district. Substitutes may be used; however, they must also hold valid teaching certification. The certified teacher is responsible for maintaining detailed instructional logs.
• Instructional Logs: Teachers must document the actual amount of CEHI provided, including dates, times, and instructional content. These logs are essential for compliance, funding, and ensuring instructional quality.

Attendance and Funding

• PRS Coding and Funding: Districts may only code a student as receiving PRS in the attendance accounting system—and thereby receive the 2.41 PRS weighted funding—if CEHI is included as part of the services provided.
• Absence Reporting: Students who are not attending school and are not receiving CEHI or Special Education (SPED) homebound services must be marked absent in accordance with the attendance accounting guidelines.

Compliance Reminder

Districts must not claim PRS funding or code students as PRS unless CEHI is actively being provided. CEHI is the foundation of the PRS program and is essential for both instructional continuity and funding eligibility.

Support Services

Support services are optional, yet vital, components of a district’s Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) program. These services are designed to complement academic instruction and provide holistic support to pregnant and parenting students throughout the prenatal and postpartum periods.

Support services may be offered:

• While the student is pregnant and attending classes on a district campus.
• During the prenatal or postpartum periods when the student is medically confined to home or hospital and receiving CEHI.
• While the student is recovering from delivery and receiving CEHI services.

In all cases, support services must be delivered in a way that enhances the student’s well-being without disrupting academic instruction, whether the student is on campus or receiving CEHI at home or in a hospital setting.

Districts that provide support services in conjunction with CEHI may begin coding students as PRS in the attendance accounting system on the first day support services are delivered, making them eligible for the 2.41 PRS weighted funding.

Examples of Support Services

Districts may choose to offer a variety of services tailored to the needs of pregnant and parenting students, including:

• Counseling services, including the initial session when the student discloses the pregnancy.
• Health services, such as care provided by the school nurse or certified athletic trainer.
• Transportation for the student or their children to school, child care facilities, health services, or community agencies.
• Parenting and life skills instruction, including topics like child development, home and family living, and job readiness training.
• Child care for the student’s children.
• Schedule modifications to accommodate medical or parenting needs (see Section 9.18, Quality Control).
• Case management and service coordination, including assistance in accessing services from government agencies and community organizations.

These services are intended to reduce barriers to education, promote student stability, and support both academic and personal success.

Pregnancy-Related Services Rules

The official rules governing Pregnancy Related Services (PRS) can be found in Section 9 of the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook published by the Texas Education Agency. This section outlines eligibility criteria, service delivery requirements, documentation standards, and funding procedures for PRS and Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI).

To support accurate implementation and compliance, TEA also provides a Pregnancy-Related Services Form Example, which districts may use to document services and maintain required records.

General State Waivers for PRS CEHI

The On-Campus PRS CEHI Waiver provides flexibility for districts to deliver Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI) on campus during the postpartum recovery period, as an alternative to the standard requirement of providing instruction at home or hospital bedside. This waiver is a modification of Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §129.1025 and the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook, Section 9.

View the State Waiver Application

For assistance with the waiver process, please contact: Waivers@tea.texas.gov

Purpose of the Waiver

The On-Campus PRS CEHI Waiver allows districts to meet the needs of eligible students by offering individualized instruction in a school setting during the postpartum period, while still maintaining the integrity and intent of CEHI services.

Waiver Duration

Based on the district’s submitted application and justification, the waiver may be approved for a period of one, two, or three school years.

District Responsibilities Under the Waiver

To maintain compliance and instructional quality, districts approved for the waiver must:

• Provide transportation to and from the on-campus CEHI setting, as needed.
• Serve students at home if medically indicated by a licensed practitioner.
• Preserve the intent of individualized instruction, ensuring face-to-face, eye-to-eye engagement.
• Limit group size to a maximum 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio for on-campus CEHI.
• Ensure the four (4) hours of CEHI are met through direct, teacher-facilitated instruction rather than relying on self-paced computer-based programs.
• A certified teacher providing PRS for students in Special Education programs must have a certification in Special Education.
• The school system must have procedures in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the waiver toward meeting the district’s or campus’s goals.

Required Information (to be entered on the waiver application)

• School System Contact: First and last name, phone number, and email address.
• Date of Board Approval: This must match the date listed on the board agenda or minutes submitted as supporting documentation.
• School Year(s) Requested: Waivers may be requested for up to three school years.
• Supplemental Information: As outlined in Appendix 2 of the waiver application.

Supporting Documentation (to be submitted with the application)

• A board agenda from the meeting at which the waiver was approved, or
• Board meeting minutes with signatures from the meeting where the waiver application was approved.

Serving Pregnant Students Receiving Special Education Services

The Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH) provides detailed guidance on how to serve pregnant students who are also eligible for special education services. Specifically, refer to:

• Chapter 4 – Special Education
• Chapter 9 – Pregnancy Related Services (PRS)

These chapters outline the procedures for coordinating Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI) with special education homebound services, ensuring that students receive the appropriate instructional support and are accurately coded for attendance and funding purposes.

For a visual overview of the decision-making process, view the Pregnancy Services Determination Flow Chart.