Photo by Daniela Rey on Unsplash

Update Oct. 16, 2017: On Oct. 15, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed Assembly Bill 568, which would have granted teachers and other academic employees of California school districts, charter schools and community colleges at least six weeks of paid leave before or after giving birth. Instead, Brown said, school districts and teacher unions should work out paid maternity leave in contract bargaining. He supports teachers’ participation in such a disability insurance program.

Original story: Many California educators use vacation and sick days to take time off following the birth of a baby. But if Gov. Jerry Brown signs Assembly Bill 568, they would receive paid maternity leave for the first time.

The bill requires school districts, charter schools and community colleges to provide at least six weeks of paid leave to public school employees before or after giving birth. CTA supports the measure because it helps address California’s teacher shortage with a benefit that attracts employees and keeps them in the workforce.

“Anything we can do to support women and family in the profession is a good thing,” says CTA President Eric Heins. “This bill will be an incentive for young people to come into this profession.”