SC House OKs up to 6 weeks paid leave for K-12 teachers after having or adopting a child
South Carolina teachers and other school district personnel are on their way to having a benefit that other state employees already have: paid parental leave.
The House unanimously passed a plan Wednesday to require school districts to have paid parental leave for school district employees.
School districts would have to provide up to six weeks of paid parental leave for school employees who give birth. A school employee who is a co-parent would be eligible for up to two weeks of paid leave. The bill also calls for six weeks of paid leave for the adoption of a child for the primary parent. Two weeks of paid leave would be allowed for the co-parent of an adopted child and when a foster child is placed in someone’s care.
Last year, lawmakers adopted the same policy for state employees but did not include teachers because they are employees of individual school districts.
Rock Hill Schools, Spartanburg 5, Spartanburg 6, Florence 2 and Florence 1, already have paid parental leave policies.
The policy is seen as a way to recruit and retain teachers as the state faces a growing teacher shortage.
Because substitute teacher pay rates vary from district to district, providing paid leave would cost districts anywhere from $2,400 to $8,000 per occurrence, if an employee takes a maximum of 12 weeks off allowed under the Family Medical Leave Act, according to the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.
Ashley Lidow, the director of policy and government relations for the Womens Rights Empowerment Network, said approving paid family leave improves outcomes for children by allowing parents time to take their children to early doctor checkups and to get their vaccinations.
It also allows both parents to bond with their children and decreases postpartum depression, Lidow said.
“That attachment not only benefits them, but it benefits their children in the long run,” Lidow said. “It provides more support for the entire family. When both parents have access to paid parental leave, the partner is able to support the birthing person and it decreases stress on the family and decreases their likelihood of needing any public assistance in the future.”
This story was originally published April 5, 2023 at 4:22 PM.
