CT Paid Leave Will Be Expanded to Include Certain Non-Certified School Employees

CT Paid Leave and CT FMLA to cover employees of “public school operators” and non-public elementary and secondary schools whose positions do not require a certification.

By Jessica Vargas

During the 2025 legislative session that ended in June, Connecticut's General Assembly passed legislation that expands who is covered under CT Paid Leave and CT FMLA. The new law, which goes into effect on October 1 of this year, amends CT Paid Leave and CT FMLA to cover employees of “public school operators” and non-public elementary and secondary schools whose positions do not require a certification under Chapter 166 of the Connecticut General Statutes, referred to as non-certified school employees.

This is an expansion of coverage. As the CT Paid Leave Act was originally drafted, local or regional boards of education have not been covered employers unless their unionized employees collectively bargain to participate in the program. Non-public elementary and secondary schools also have not been covered employers and have been without the option for their unionized employees to collectively bargain to participate.

As of October 1, 2025, public and non-public elementary and secondary schools will be covered employers with respect to non-certified staff whose positions do not require a professional certification under Chapter 166. To be eligible for CT Paid Leave, employees must (1) have earned at least $2325 during their highest earning quarter within the base period and (2) have been employed by a covered employer within the 12 weeks immediately before their claim begins.

School employees whose positions do require certification, such as teachers at public schools, will continue to not be covered under CT Paid Leave unless their union collectively bargains for participation in the program.

CT Paid Leave Authority will hold a series of webinars to assist employees of Connecticut’s public and non-public schools with their understanding of the new benefits available to them and how to apply including:

Workers at Public Schools

August 13, 4–5 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Cyxb0MQIRJqKevkfdWoJEw

September 8, 6–7 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TeHFnvlvTtm9bNledDVLdw

September 23, 4–5 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n1MxcrTAT4Cd-6G1EaKVOg

Workers at Non-Public schools

August 6, 4–5 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LG7WoL4NT1iDcFQooWwSmQ

September 10, 4–5 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9HiJR3o3Q7mO9HpNi5uODg

September 25, 6–7 pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AELmemNwQ5-af6iv7frxew

For more information about CT Paid Leave and how to apply, visit www.ctpaidleave.org.

This article was written by Jessica Vargas, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at CT Paid Leave.