69传媒 are required to provide lactating teachers with reasonable breaks and private, non-bathroom spaces to pump during the workday. But the reality of implementation has been tricky.
Carving out time to step away from the classroom and other daily responsibilities on occasion鈥攍et alone every few hours for 20 minutes or so鈥攃an be a challenge for teachers. Finding a clean, private space to pump in a busy school may present an equally daunting challenge.
It鈥檚 perhaps no surprise, then, that many teachers report that their schools provide inadequate space and breaks for pumping, despite a 2022 federal law mandating it for up to one year after childbirth.
A recent unscientific Education Week on social media asked, 鈥淎re breastfeeding teachers at your school given time and resources to pump during the school day?鈥� Among 790 respondents, 40 percent answered 鈥渘o.鈥� Education Week鈥檚 printable downloadable can help turn this around.
The downloadable explains why supporting breastfeeding-friendly policies at work makes sense, and offers actionable steps on how school leaders can implement a supportive policy. It even provides a 鈥渄o not disturb鈥� door hanger for use in schools.
