Both parents are each entitled to six weeks of UFT parental leave if they both work for the DOE in UFT-represented titles. In the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, the union fixed a thorny issue with the original 2018 parental leave agreement: When both the parent and the nonbirth parent were UFT-represented employees, they were entitled to a collective total of only six weeks of parental leave. Under the updated contract provision, this couple may now take a total of 12 weeks of parental leave.

The combined 12 weeks of parental leave can run concurrently (six weeks each, at the same time) or consecutively (six weeks for one parent, followed by six weeks for the other parent). However, one parent may not donate their leave time to the other to increase one's UFT parental leave period beyond six weeks. 

Members can apply for a UFT parental leave 15 days before giving birth but no later than 10 days after delivery. If the birth date is significantly different from the due date, you can revise your information in SOLAS as long as you log back in within 10 days of giving birth. You must log into to SOLAS to confirm your baby's arrival date whenever the birth occurs. 

• If you physically gave birth to a child, you may use your available CAR/sick day balance immediately after your child’s birth for up to a maximum of six calendar weeks (eight weeks for a C-section) before beginning UFT parental leave for an additional six weeks.
• If you did not give birth to a child, you are eligible for up to six weeks of UFT parental leave beginning on the date of the birth or adoption of the child.
• If your newborn can’t come home from the hospital with you: In a new provision in the 2023 contract, if the newborn must remain in the hospital (in a neonatal intensive care unit or otherwise) longer than a typical stay, the parental leave can be delayed for either the birth parent or their partner, and the birth parent can borrow days and use a grace period for up to six weeks following the vaginal birth or eight weeks following a C-section if she doesn’t have enough CAR days in her bank. In no case, however, may parental leave start later than three months after the birth of a child. 

No. Birth mothers must choose between two options:

1. Take the traditional maternity leave including any applicable right to borrow days and/or use a grace period; or
2. Take a UFT parental leave. Under this option, immediately following the birth of a child, a birth mother may choose to use up to six weeks of CAR days for a vaginal birth and may use up to eight weeks of CAR days for a C-section birth. Following the use of her CAR days, the birth mother can use UFT parental leave for up to an additional six weeks — for a total of 12 to 14 weeks.