Arkansas
LEARNS Act
The LEARNS Act, an educational reform bill, was signed into law on March 8, 2023. The law addresses numerous topics affecting Arkansas elementary and secondary education. Of note, voluntary paid maternity leave is included.
What's included?
Optional Paid Maternity Leave
- Public school districts or open-enrollment charter schools may opt in.
- Available to full-time employees of participating employers.
Available Benefits
- Schools can offer up to 12 weeks of fully or partially paid maternity leave.
- Costs will be split 50/50 between the school and the state. There isn’t an option for costs to be deducted from employee pay.
- Paid maternity leave is limited to full-time personnel who have been employed for at least one year.
- Leave can only be used in the 12-week period immediately following the birth of a biological child by the employee or the placement of an adoptive child in the employee’s home.