A new national case study is highlighting Arkansas as a model for expanding paid maternity leave for educators, pointing to bipartisan efforts that transformed a limited provision into a fully state-funded benefit for public and charter school employees.
The National Council on Teacher Quality on Tuesday released a case study titled “The Natural State Delivers: How Arkansas Turned a Quiet Provision into a Landmark Paid Leave Policy,” examining the state’s expanded paid maternity leave policy for teachers and school staff. The report details how Arkansas strengthened support for educators and their families through pro-family legislation backed by lawmakers from both parties.
Paid maternity leave for teachers was first introduced as an optional cost-sharing provision in the 2023 LEARNS Act. In 2025, the policy was significantly expanded through Act 904, which converted the benefit into a fully state-funded program available to all eligible full-time public school and charter school employees.
The legislation was championed by Rep. Andrew Collins, D–Little Rock, and co-sponsored by Sen. Breanne Davis, R–Russellville, with support from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Education.
“Paid maternity leave was one of the best outcomes of the LEARNS Act, and when we looked at the numbers, it was clear this was a smart investment,” Collins said. “With bipartisan support and a responsible design, Arkansas created an affordable, scalable policy that helps keep great educators in our state.”
Davis said the expansion ensures teachers have adequate time to recover and bond with their newborns before returning to the classroom.
“We were able to create a fully state-funded benefit that gives teachers the time they need to recover, bond with their children and return to the classroom ready to succeed,” Davis said. “Giving them real time with their newborns is one simple way we show that Arkansas is committed to teachers, families and work-life balance.”
Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health, an advocacy organization that supported the effort, praised the case study for highlighting the connection between maternal health, workforce stability and family-centered policy.
“We were proud to support policymakers on this effort and are grateful to see Arkansas recognized as a national example of family-first policy done right,” said Ashley Bearden Campbell, executive director of AIM.
According to the NCTQ report, the Arkansas Department of Education determined the expanded program could be fully funded using existing resources, due in part to limited participation under the original cost-sharing model. The case study notes that the policy is both affordable and scalable, offering a potential blueprint for other states.
“As states across the country explore ways to strengthen their teacher pipelines and better support working parents, Arkansas’s experience offers a compelling roadmap,” Campbell said. “Family-first policy, bipartisan collaboration and fiscally responsible design can deliver tangible and lasting change.”
