Arkansas is one of only two states in the nation offering teachers 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, according to a new State of the States report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ).
The nonprofit organization evaluates how states invest in educators through policies such as paid parental leave, teacher compensation, and workforce incentives. The report highlights Arkansas’ continued efforts to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention while supporting working families.
“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,” Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “I signed Arkansas LEARNS and started investing in our state’s educators because a great education starts with great teachers.”
Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said the incentives are already delivering results across classrooms statewide.
“Arkansas students are excelling because we are placing them in high-quality learning environments,” Oliva said. “Increasing starting salaries and providing 12 weeks of paid maternity leave are attracting educators and improving educational outcomes.”
Governor Sanders signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act in 2023, which established up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for teachers, launched the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, raised starting teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000 annually, and provided at least a $2,000 raise for every teacher.
In 2025, the governor also signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, investing $45 million to strengthen maternal health statewide. The legislation expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, supported doulas and community health workers, and improved access to remote prenatal care services.
Education leaders say the policies position Arkansas as a national leader in supporting educators while improving long-term student success.
The full NCTQ report is available through the organization’s official publication.
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