Little Rock, Arkansas – In a recent report by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), Arkansas has emerged as one of only two states in the nation offering 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to teachers. The NCTQ’s State of the States report evaluates how states are investing in educators through paid parental leave, and Arkansas’s position highlights its leadership in educator support.
Strengthening Support for Teachers and Families
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders emphasized the importance of not forcing educators to choose between their families and their profession. “Our teachers shouldn’t have to choose between their families and their classrooms, and in Arkansas, we’re making sure they don’t have to,” she said. “I signed Arkansas LEARNS and started investing in our state’s educators because a great education starts with great teachers. Thanks to these incentives, Arkansas is recruiting and retaining the best, ensuring our students are given every opportunity to thrive and establishing Arkansas as a national education leader.”
Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva echoed the governor’s sentiments, pointing to the connection between teacher satisfaction and student success. “Arkansas students are excelling because we are placing them in high-quality learning environments,” he said. “It takes action to recruit and retain the very best educators. Necessary incentives like increasing the starting salary and providing 12 weeks of paid maternity leave are attracting educators, actively improving educational outcomes, and putting Arkansas at the top.”
Legislative Milestones for Educators and Families
In 2023, Governor Sanders signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act, a sweeping education reform law that not only increased teacher support but also directly raised educational standards. As part of that legislation, Arkansas teachers became eligible for 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, and starting salaries were raised from $36,000 to $50,000. Additionally, every teacher across the state received at least a $2,000 raise. The law also created the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program to further recognize and reward educator excellence.
Beyond education policy, Governor Sanders has also taken steps to improve maternal health. In 2025, she signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, dedicating $45 million to improving outcomes for pregnant women across the state. The act included major advancements like establishing Presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women and offering Medicaid coverage for remote ultrasounds, remote blood pressure monitoring, and continuous glucose monitoring. It also created reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers.
These combined efforts show Arkansas’s commitment to not only retaining top educators but also improving conditions for families across the state. The full NCTQ report offers further insights into how Arkansas stands out as a national leader in education policy.
