Iowa is among more than two-thirds of states that do not have a program requiring paid parental leave for teachers.
A report from the National Council on Teacher Quality found only two states require fully paid parental leave for teachers for up to 12 weeks. Another 14 states require some form of paid leave, while seven offer optional programs.
Council President Heather Peske says research shows paid parental leave can help reduce teacher turnover. Peske says many teachers rank encouraged family support among their top incentives for recruitment and retention, and without paid parental leave, teachers often struggle to balance work and family demands.
An Iowa law that took effect last year provides state employees with up to four weeks of paid parental leave, but it does not apply to teachers, who are employed by local school districts rather than the state.
