California’s educators are facing a brutal reality that’s more pregnancy-unfriendly than a tech startup’s HR policy.

Teachers across the Golden State are still fighting for something that should be a no-brainer: paid pregnancy leave. Assembly Bill 65, which would have granted school employees full pay during pregnancy-related absences, got totally ghosted by the Senate before the July 18 deadline.

The Pregnancy Penalty

Currently, teachers are basically getting the short end of the stick. They’re exempt from state disability insurance and can only take unpaid maternity leave. Most end up burning through vacation and sick time just to have a baby - because apparently, reproducing the next generation of learners isn’t considered “real work”.

The Fight Continues

Erika Jones from the California Teachers Association isn’t backing down. “Teachers in California , the fourth largest economy in the world , have to pay out of our pockets to hire substitutes when we are out with our newborn babies,” she argues. The “pregnancy penalty” means women teachers see their career trajectories dramatically different from their male counterparts.

Political Roadblocks

This isn’t a new battle. Both former Governor Jerry Brown and current Governor Gavin Newsom have previously vetoed similar bills, citing cost concerns. But let’s be real: if California can fund tech tax breaks, it can definitely fund teachers having babies.

The fight continues, and educators aren’t giving up. Stay tuned for round two in 2026.