By: Women's Rights and Empowerment Network The Paid Leave for Educators (H 3908) on Wednesday passed the South Carolina House unanimously. This bill is now off to the Governor's desk for signature. Soon, more than 55,000 educators in South Carolina will be eligible for up to 6 weeks of paid parental leave upon the birth, adoption, or placement of a foster child. Prior to this bill's passage, educators had no designated paid leave benefits when welcoming a new baby into their household.
With the passage of this bill, South Carolina has become a leader in the South for paid parental leave. The bill passed swiftly with the bipartisan support within both Chambers and the support of WREN, Palmetto State Teachers Association, many other advocacy organizations, and hundreds of advocates. The passage of this bill is truly notable in a legislative session where so few bills have passed. This win expands the benefits secured in 2022 to provide paid parental leave for state employees. Now, the state's educators will also have time after childbirth or adoption to recover, provide the best possible start for their children, and bond as a family before returning to work. No one should have to choose between their families and their paycheck.
Ann Warner, Chief Executive Officer of the Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), stated: “We are thrilled that we have secured this win for our educators and their families. Educators, who work so hard for all our kids, deserve this time to be able to care for their own babies and families. Everyone is better off when parents have the time they need to recover from childbirth, care for their children, and bond as a family. This victory would not have happened without the strong leadership of our legislative champions and the persistent advocacy of thousands of educators and caring citizens across the state.”
About WREN
The Women's Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) is a South Carolina-based nonpartisan nonprofit organization. WREN uses a gender justice framework to build a movement to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of South Carolina's women, girls, and gender-expansive people. Learn more at scwren.org.
