Little Rock, Arkansas – Teachers in Arkansas are receiving unprecedented support thanks to state policies that prioritize educators’ well-being. According to a recent report from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), Arkansas is one of only two states in the nation that offers teachers 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, a significant step in valuing both teachers and their families.
The NCTQ, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring every student has access to highly qualified educators, highlighted the state’s progressive approach in its latest State of the States report. The organization assessed how states invest in teachers through paid parental leave policies and found that Arkansas stands out as a national leader.
“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,” said Governor Sanders. “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.”
The Governor’s remarks underline a broader strategy aimed at strengthening education by supporting those who deliver it. Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that these measures are improving the classroom experience for students across the state.
“Arkansas students are excelling because we are placing them in high-quality learning environments,” Oliva 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.”
The state’s commitment to teachers is part of a broader legislative push that began in 2023 with the Arkansas LEARNS Act. This sweeping law introduced multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening the teaching profession. Among the most notable measures, teachers now have access to up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, a benefit that remains rare across the country. The act also established the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, raised starting teacher salaries from $36,000 to $50,000 annually, and provided every teacher with at least a $2,000 raise.
These changes reflect a growing recognition that teacher retention and student success are closely linked. By providing financial stability and family-friendly policies, the state hopes to attract more qualified professionals and keep them in classrooms longer.
Governor Sanders continued this focus on family support in 2025 by signing the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, which allocated $45 million to promote maternal health across Arkansas. The law introduced a series of programs designed to help expectant mothers, including Presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women, reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers, and pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for remote ultrasounds, blood pressure monitoring, and continuous glucose monitoring.
Together, these policies signal Arkansas’s intent to invest in both education and health, recognizing that the success of one often depends on the support of the other. Teachers benefit from job security and family leave, while students gain from stable, well-supported learning environments. Meanwhile, expecting mothers across the state can access critical health resources to safeguard their well-being and that of their babies.
By combining competitive salaries, extended maternity leave, and robust maternal health programs, Arkansas is setting a model that other states might soon follow. While only one other state currently offers the same maternity leave benefits for teachers, Arkansas’s approach demonstrates that with targeted policies, it is possible to support educators without compromising student achievement.
As the state continues to prioritize both teachers and families, policymakers hope these programs will reinforce Arkansas’s reputation as a national leader in education, attracting the best educators while ensuring that students have access to high-quality classrooms for years to come.
