Overview

• California public school teachers currently lack dedicated paid maternity leave, forcing them to use sick leave and incur significant pay cuts after childbirth.
• Assembly Bill 65 proposes granting up to 14 weeks of fully paid leave for pregnancy and recovery, a move widely seen as overdue in addressing gender discrimination in a female-majority workforce.
• The absence of paid leave contributes to teacher shortages and retention struggles in California, with many educators returning to work prematurely due to financial pressures.
• The U.S. remains the only wealthy nation without a national parental leave policy, lagging behind global standards for reproductive and workplace rights.
• The bill, now under legislative review, seeks to align California with international norms and support educators' health, career stability, and family needs.