California adopts 14-week paid maternity leave for teachers after Gov. Newsom’s shift
Governor Gavin Newsom backed a new education budget bill that grants public-school and community-college staff up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave, reversing his earlier opposition.
California’s new budget package includes a provision giving teachers and community-college employees up to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, a sharp turn for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who blocked comparable bills in 2019 and 2024. The change follows a personal story of teacher Mollie Blustein, who exhausted her sick days after a premature birth and faced a pay cut. State officials cite a surge in tax receipts, largely from tech-stock gains, to fund the roughly $218 million program, while districts will draw on their cost-of-living increases to pay for substitutes.
The move has attracted bipartisan support and is seen as a voter-friendly initiative ahead of Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential run. Education leaders note that many teachers, especially women, have been forced to schedule births during summer breaks to avoid losing pay. Critics warn that the financial burden on some districts remains a concern, even as the start date shifts to January 2027.
Why it matters
It provides California teachers with reliable paid maternity leave, addressing a long-standing equity gap and influencing statewide labor policy.
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