LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — So far, 27 Arkansas school districts have announced their participation in the LEARNS Act's maternity leave program for the 2024-25 school year.
“Great education starts with great teachers, and recruiting and retaining those teachers is one of the key planks of the LEARNS Act," said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Seventy percent of Arkansas’ teachers are women, so expanding maternity leave helps the majority of our teachers build a family and a great career at the same time.”
The program allows districts to partner with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to split the cost of filling a position when a staff member is on paid maternity leave.
Participating districts can choose how long they want to participate in the program (up to 12 weeks) and whether employees will receive full or partial compensation paid during that time.
"Allowing me to have these past 12 weeks off while being paid has been a true blessing for my family,” said first-grade teacher Katelyn Hodges with Two Rivers School District about her past experience with the program. “I didn't have to worry one time about our financial situation while bringing another baby into the world, unlike my past maternity leaves. Instead, my district put me first as an employee and as a mother. They gave me a gift I'll never be able to repay—the gift of time and peace of mind.”
The following districts submitted cost-sharing agreements for the 2024-25 school year:
- Arkansas Military and First Responders Academy
- Beebe
- Clinton
- De Queen
- Earle
- Genoa Central
- Greenbrier
- Harrisburg
- Helena-West Helena
- Hope
- Izard County
- Jacksonville North Pulaski
- Jonesboro, Kirby
- Lawrence County
- Lee County
- Little Rock
- Magnolia
- Manilla
- Marvell-Elaine
- Nettleton
- Pine Bluff
- Rivercrest
- Rose Bud
- Searcy
- Spring Hill
- Strong-Huttig
“Like with other portions of the LEARNS Act, the maternity leave benefit can be used to recruit and retain high-quality teachers to a district,” ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “These districts are not just showing their commitment to supporting teachers and staff, but also are providing a sense of security as they welcome a new child into the family.”
