South Carolina Provides Paid Leave to Teachers

play icon A teacher stands smiling at the front of the classroom near a whiteboard with colorful numbers. Five young students sit at a table, engaged in writing and conversation. The bright classroom, a testament to the dedication of public school employees, is adorned with educational decorations and learning materials.

Governor Henry McMaster has signed paid parental leave for public school employees into law, effective June 26, 2023.


In 2022, South Carolina enacted a law to provide paid parental leave benefits to state employees. With the recently signed legislation, the law will now also include public school staff and teachers, providing them with six weeks of paid parental leave.

  • Eligible employees may take leave for childbirth or for adoption or placement of a foster child under the age of 18; leave must be taken within a year of the child’s birth or placement, respectively.
  • This makes South Carolina the first state in the southeastern U.S. to guarantee paid parental leave to public school employees statewide.

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