Letters: Educators need paid parental leave LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor Author email May 18, 2026 May 18, 2026 1 min to read SMS Email Mia Blum, a UNO student who just graduated, helps teach a class as part of a teacher residency at Joseph J. Davies Elementary School in Meraux, La., Tuesday, May 12, 2026. STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The ¶¶Ņõh Legislatureās possible implementation of paid for public schoolteachers and other employees is laudable and welcome. Most workers cannot afford to take unpaid parental leave. Senate Bill 157 would enable K-12 educators to have six weeks of paid leave when they need to care for a new child without losing their income, savings or much-needed paid sick days. Having paid parental leave would promote the health and well-being of ¶¶Ņõh educators and their families. It would aid schools in the recruitment and retention of teachers. Peer states such as Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee already have paid parental leave policies for teachers and have found that only about 2% use the policy annually. Quality teaching can be maintained by schools developing lists of qualified teachers (often retirees) who may be substitutes for those on leave. Louisiana is greatly concerned about both teacher shortages and, more generally, outmigration and the loss of population. Implementing paid parental leave for teachers would be a positive step in helping ¶¶Ņõh be a better, more competitive state. PHYLLIS RAABENew Orleans SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Hardwall Letters to the Editor Author email