Downey Unified gets 'A' grade for supporting breastfeeding students

DOWNEY — A women’s advocacy group has awarded Downey Unified an “A” grade for its efforts in supporting breastfeeding students and staff.

The California Women’s Law Center released its 2019 report card Monday, which assessed the lactation accommodation policies of all L.A. County school districts.

Federal and state law mandate school protection of the rights of parenting employees and students, including allowing breast milk to be provided to their children free from discrimination.

Downey Unified received top marks from the organization for having an employee lactation accommodation policy, and for a separate policy that covers breastfeeding students.

Downey’s “A” grade is an improvement from three years ago, when the California Women’s Law Center awarded Downey a “D.”

Norwalk-La Mirada and Paramount school districts also received “A” grades this year, while Bellflower Unified was awarded an “F” due to its lack of policies.

Under Title IX and California law, schools are required to provide accommodations to allow pregnant students to remain full participants in their education, receiving the same benefits in school as every other student.

In 2015, California passed a law to clarify that lactating students are entitled to specific protections including the provision of a private space to express milk and that the space provided cannot be a bathroom or a closet.