The story of Kimberly Papa, an elementary school teacher in Ohio, mirrors that of many other public school teachers in the U.S. who are forced to negotiate insufficient maternity leave policies. Due to limited availability of paid maternity leave, public school teachers across the U.S. are often compelled to save up sick days, pay for their own substitute teachers, or return to work sooner than medically advised after childbirth. A National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report states that approximately 18% of the nation’s largest school districts provide paid parental leave beyond sick days as of 2022, but the amount and duration of leave vary drastically. Teachers receive around 10-14 sick days per year on average, and many districts require that these be exhausted before teachers can avail of paid leave.

The United States lags behind other developed nations when it comes to providing paid family leave. Unlike many other countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S doesn’t mandate paid leave for new parents. Currently, just 13 states and Washington D.C. mandate paid parental leave, as per the Bipartisan Policy Center. Only certain states, like California, provide paid family leave benefits, but teachers, as state employees, are not automatically included.

This issue presents a significant challenge, especially given the fact that a sizeable proportion of teachers are women of childbearing age. The existing system can strain the teachers’ physical, mental and financial wellbeing, affect morale and job satisfaction, and lead to high turnover rates. It underscores the need for comprehensive, universally applicable paid parental leave policies that adequately support teachers during critical life events.

Considering that some teachers might find it difficult to contact the Employment Development Department (EDD) for queries, assistance or benefits related to parental leave, some reliable and helpful resources are available online. The website eddcaller.com provides useful and accurate information on how to get ahold of edd customer service, including FAQs and the best times to call.