- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Leaves of Absences
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Leaves of Absence
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A leave is an authorized absence from active service granted to a contract employee, for a specified purpose and period of time, with the right to return to active service unless the employee’s service would otherwise have been terminated. The term “formal leave” refers to any leave of more than twenty days in duration. Formal leaves must be applied for in writing using the District form at least two calendar months before the start of the leave of absence.
Contract Reference: For additional information on leaves and absences, click here to link to the LAUSD/UTLA Bargaining Agreement. Go to Article XII, Leaves and Absences.
- Child Care Leaves
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An unpaid CHILD CARE LEAVE may be granted to a permanent or probationary employee to care for the employee's child / children (including adopted children) under five (5) years of age.
A permanent employee may be granted a maximum of the equivalent of four (4) semesters of childcare leave.
A probationary employee may be granted unpaid childcare leave immediately following the pregnancy leave, birth, or adoption for the balance of the semester, but combined pregnancy and childcare leaves shall not exceed two semesters.
An employee has return rights if the childcare leave immediately follows pregnancy leave, birth or adoption, but only for the balance of the semester.
DEADLINE - If the request for childcare leave immediately follows the pregnancy leave, the leave request should be submitted immediately following the leave. Leave requests not immediately following the pregnancy leave may be submitted at any time but must be on file in the Personnel Office by April 15th for the fall semester and by November 15th for the spring semester.
FORMS - For a Child Care Leave you need the following forms:
Request for Certificated Leave of Absence Form
Request to Return from Leave Form
All forms can be found in the Certificated Assignments and Support Services Form Library
NOTE: A copy of the baby's birth certificate, or certificate/letter from the hospital or attending physician, or adoption papers must accompany the leave request.
- Family Care Leaves
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The federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) requires the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to provide up to 12 workweeks of job-protected leave to eligible employees. Please use the following link to access additional information regarding Protected Leaves and Absences.
DEADLINE - Eligible employees may apply for these types of leaves at any time.
The following forms are required:
Request to Return from Leave Form Request to Return from Leave Form
Additional forms can be found in the Certificated Assignments and Support Services Form Library.
- Illness Leave
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A formal ILLNESS LEAVE is a leave granted to an employee for absence covering a period of more than 20 consecutive working days because the employee is unable to work due to personal illness, injury, quarantine occasioned by the employee’s own or another’s illness, or a temporary disability caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, or recovery therefrom.
Formal illness leaves are paid leaves.
DEADLINE - These leaves may be applied for at any time.
The Illness Leave must have the Attending Physician’s Statement either attached to the leave form or sent to the Personnel Office separately.
FORMS - For an Illness Leave you need the following forms:
All forms can be found in the Certificated Assignments and Support Services Form Library
- Personal Leave
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PERSONAL LEAVES are permissive leaves and may be granted to a permanent employee for a period not to exceed 52 consecutive calendar weeks, for a specific personal reason as outlined in the LAUSD / UTLA Bargaining Agreement.
Personal Leaves are unpaid, and the District does not provide benefits during these leaves.
DEADLINE - Applications for personal leave must be received no later than April 15th to begin personal leave for the Fall semester, or by November 15th to begin personal leave for the Spring semester.
FORMS - For a Personal Leave you need the following forms:
Please use the link to access the forms which are located in the Certificated Assignments and Support Services Form Library
- Pregnancy Leave
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The California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDL) requires the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to provide up to 18 weeks of job-protected leave to eligible employees.
When a physical or mental condition related to pregnancy or childbirth prevents an employee from performing essential duties of the employee’s job, or if the employee’s job causes undue risk to the employee or the employee’s pregnancy’s successful completion, the employee may request pregnancy disability leave.
Please use the following link to access additional information regarding Protected Leaves and Absences.
DEADLINE - Eligible employees may apply for these types of leaves at any time.
The Pregnancy Leave must have the Attending Physician’s Statement either attached to the Leave Form or sent to Human Resources separately.
FORMS - For a Pregnancy Leave you need the following forms:
All forms are available in the Certificated Assignments and Support Services Form Library
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is eligible for childcare leave?
Probationary teachers may take childcare leave immediately following parental leave until the end of that semester. Permanent teachers may take childcare leave for a maximum of 4 semesters.
Do I have return rights back to my school after a Childcare Leave?
Teachers have return rights immediately following maternity leave, birth, or adoption, but only for the remainder of the current semester.
I have been working as a contract teacher for 2 years. My mother's very ill, what options do I have?
Family Care and Medical Leave is available to an employee who has been employed for 12 months and has worked at least 130 workdays during the 12 months preceding the request for leave.
- This is unpaid; however, benefits remain available.
- Family Care and Medical Leaves cannot exceed 12 working weeks in a year.
- The teacher has return rights back to the same school.
- Benefits remain available.
Who is eligible for Illness Leaves?
Any contracted teacher is eligible for these leaves, e.g., permanent, probationary, provisional, University Intern, District Intern. Refer to LAUSD / UTLA Agreement, Article XII, Leaves and Absences, Section 2.0.
Am I eligible for state disability?
No, teachers do not pay state disability insurance; therefore, they are not eligible to receive state disability payments.
I am a permanent teacher and would like to take a Personal Leave for a year. Is this possible?
Permanent teachers may be granted a maximum of one-year unpaid personal leave. There are no return rights back to the school, only to the District.
Who is eligible for Pregnancy Leaves?
Any contracted teacher is eligible for these leaves, e.g., permanent, probationary, provisional, University Intern, District Intern. Refer to LAUSD/UTLA Agreement, Article XII, Leaves and Absences, Section 2.0.
How long can I stay out on a Pregnancy Leave?
The length of a Pregnancy Leave is determined by the attending physician, usually 6 weeks after the birth of the baby. Complications or Cesarean deliveries may necessitate longer leaves.
When my Pregnancy Leave expires, what options do I have other than returning to my school?
Depending on your status with the school district, you may be eligible to take family care leave or childcare leave, both of which are covered in the general description of leaves.
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Contact
Leanne Hannah
Director(213) 241-5100
HRAssignments@lausd.net
Address:
333 S. Beaudry Ave,
14th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017