Urging the School District of Philadelphia to enhance its maternity leave program.

WHEREAS, Recently, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an eye-opening op-ed detailing the School District of Philadelphia’s maternity leave; and

WHEREAS, These findings come on the heels of a substantial staffing crisis within the School District, which will persist if the School District continues to offer its employees lackluster maternity leave; and

WHEREAS, Maternity leave is a necessity for women, their newborn, and their family. It allows the mother time to prepare mentally and physically for childbirth, recover from the effects of having delivered a child, and for the mother to spend time bonding with her newborn; and

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 700 women die from pregnancy-related complications. “

Another 50,000 people each year have unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery with serious short- or long-term health consequences”

; and

WHEREAS, Maternal mortality is high among Black women; and

WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control has found that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications than White women are; and

WHEREAS, The selfless educators of the School District of Philadelphia who make personal sacrifices to pour into our future generations are due quality healthcare. By allowing antiquated maternity leave policies to persist, the School District denies those women the healthcare they deserve; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Urges the School District of Philadelphia to enhance its maternity leave program.

End