Comments on: Teachers: How long did you have to work before getting maternity leave benefits?

By: eml

eml — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:17:36 +0000

It depends on what you mean by extended time. If you want 6 weeks usually you can do that your first year. If you want to take a years leave of absence you need to be tenured within your district (usually 3 years). Every school system is diffferent so I would check with HR. I know with most you have to use sick days or the sick day bank.

By: 3rd grade teacher

3rd grade teacher — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:28:24 +0000

well, normally you can take up to 12 weeks - you would only get paid for the amount of time that you have sick days for. like if you only had enough sick days for 9 weeks you would just not get paid for the last 3 if you decided to take them…

at my school, we have a union. we have negotiated to be able to leave for up to a whole year for maternity leave and be guaranteed our old job when we return. obviously the year leave would be without pay…

probably depends on the district, though, good luck…

By: Orangeaporange

Orangeaporange — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:37:02 +0000

I have worked for over 7 years with the same school. Maternity leave is unpaid, but I can take up to a year off and my job will still be secured.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:42:57 +0000

talk to the administrator, because every district is diffrent, u can get a LARGE range of answers on here!!!!!

By: FLmom3

FLmom3 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:33:55 +0000

When I was a teacher, once I was given my permanent teaching contract, then I was also eligible for maternity leave benefits that I had added to my other benefits. In our state, you do not automatically get maternity benefits (pay). Here, a teacher can save up any sick days and use those, and also buy maternity benefits available through the various ins. plans. Also, here in our state, a teacher who returns after 3 months is guaranteed her same exact position in her same classroom. If you return after 3 months up to 1 year, you are given a guaranteed position within the school you were teaching. And finally, if you return after 1 year up to 2 years, you are guaranteed a position within the school district, but not necessarily that school you were at. I went back after our 1st (when she was 9 months) but then resigned once I had our next child. I hope this helps. The best thing to do really is contact your human resources dept. and speak with them.

By: brooklyn

brooklyn — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:41:31 +0000

In my district I have seen new teachers take maternity leave right away - it’s their sick days and may have to borrow from the “sick leave bank” if they haven’t accumulated enough of their own yet