Without paid family leave, teachers stockpile sick days and aim for summer babies

Many teachers in the US are forced to stockpile sick days and aim for summer births due to lack of paid parental leave.

The current situation: Less than one fifth of the nation’s largest school districts offer paid parental leave for teachers, with only a handful of states providing guarantees.
* Teachers often have to take limited unpaid leave, save up sick leave, attempt a summer birth, or pay for their own substitute teacher.

New laws: Oklahoma recently passed a law that pays for six weeks of maternity leave for teachers, joining states like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas that have also updated their policies.

Benefits of paid leave: Paid maternity leave has been linked to improved worker morale and retention, as well as better physical and mental health outcomes for mothers and children.
* Teachers of color can particularly benefit from paid leave, helping to address teacher shortages in diverse populations.

Addressing challenges: While providing paid parental leave may require funding and finding long-term substitutes, advocates suggest sharing costs between states and districts and changing the way substitute teachers are employed to provide better solutions.

View original article on NPR

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