The Atlanta Board of Education authorizes annual leave, pursuant to administrative regulations set forth by the Superintendent, for personnel employed on a twelve-month basis:

• Less than ten years of service 3.750 hrs. per pay period
• Ten to twenty years of service 4.875 hrs. per pay period
• Twenty or more years of service 5.625 hrs. per pay period
• Employees on 220-day assignment prior to May 13, 1986 who continue in said assignment are authorized annual leave as follows:
• Less than ten years of service 1.0227 days per pay period
• Ten to twenty years of service 2.0454 days per pay period
• Twenty or more years of service 3.0681 days per pay period

An employee may accrue annual leave days up to a maximum of 225.00 hours (30 working days).

The maximum number of days allowed for bereavement leave is three (3) days. If travel or other extenuating circumstances require the employee to be absent beyond the three-day period, personal leave or annual leave must be requested and approved. Otherwise, the employee may be placed on unpaid leave. The employee may be required to submit written documentation of the death of the family member. One leave day is granted for the death of a family member not in the immediate family.

Atlanta Public Schools has discontinued COVID-19 Paid incentive effective July 1, 2023.  Employees that contract COVID-19 after July 1, 2023, should follow the Atlanta Public Schools Sick Leave policy and protocol while they recuperate. 

COVID-19 Updates and Reporting Protocol

• Masks will remain optional in all APS facilities and school buses. 
• As of July 31, 2023, APS will NO longer offer COVID-19 testing at any APS buildings or schools. 
• As of June 30, 2023, staff are NO longer required to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing.
• APS will continue to follow DPH Isolation and Close Contact guidelines. APS isolation and quarantine guidelines can be found here: COVID-19 Updates and Alerts webpage o Individuals who test positive for a Communicable Disease will need to follow isolation guidelines.  o Individuals exposed to a positive Communicable Disease do not need to quarantine at home. Individuals may continue to report to work or school if they remain without symptoms. Please reference the Close Contact guidelines for more information.  o Students and staff who test positive or have a Communicable Disease exposure must complete a self-report form found at the following link: COVID-19 Self Report form. 
• Supervisors should use the link for Communicable Diseases Supervisor Guidance: COVID-19 Supervisor Guidance 

For general health services questions, you may email HealthServices@atlanta.k12.ga.us, and a team member will address your concern within 24 hours. See policy GARH and GARH-R(1) for further explanation of rights and responsibilities related to Sick Leave.

If employees have been actively employed with Atlanta Public Schools for the previous 12 months, they may be eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The entitlement is for 12 weeks of leave during a 12-month period for serious personal illness, the birth or adoption of a child, or placement of a foster child, or the care of a sick spouse, child, or parent.

For additional information or assistance, contact Human Resources at 404-802-2309.

Submit your leave request to your principal or supervisor for board approval. Include the government level or branch, position, supervisors name and length of leave (up to one year).

Use this leave if you must take care of a seriously ill spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, in-law equivalents of the above or any relative residing in your home. FMLA also may apply.

Submit the Leave Request Form and a statement from your relatives doctor about the need for care and the approximate dates of your assistance.

An employee who is subpoenaed as a witness will use personal leave for the absence or absences. If the case is connected with personal business, the employee may apply to the Executive Director for Human Resources for approved leave for the day or days involved.

Employees who are summoned for jury duty will be paid their regular salary for the days served. There will be no loss of pay because of jury duty.

You are paid for up to 18 work days in any one calendar year. APS grants leave without pay if the U.S. Armed Forces require you for longer military service. Submit the Leave Request Form and a copy of the military orders.

Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is leave provided under State law designed to balance the needs of employer and employees in circumstances when employees must take leave for a qualifying life event due to the birth of a child or the placement of a minor child via adoption or foster care.  PPL gives eligible full-time employees the right to take up to 240 hours of paid parental leave over a twelve (12) month period.
The Human Resources Division (Absence Management) administers PPL for all Atlanta Public Schools employees. Employees and supervisors are encouraged to contact the Absence Management regarding qualification, eligibility, entitlement to leave, return to work, notice, and documentation to establish the qualifying life event, and application of this regulation.

Atlanta Public Schools allows less-than-twelve-month employees, instructional staff, and all other employees who work fewer than twelve months each year to use up to three days of sick leave as personal leave. Personal leave not used in one contract/work year is not accrued.

Elected presidents of employee organizations receive this leave for that offices single term (not to exceed two years). Send a written request to the superintendent for board approval, plus documents from the organization stating that it must reimburse APS for your salary and benefits.

Atlanta Public Schools recognizes an employee’s right to request religious leave as a workplace accommodation. In conformance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Atlanta Board of Education Policy GBRI (Professional Personnel Personal Leaves and Absences), the following procedure dictates the appropriate measures for requesting such accommodation.

A request for religious accommodation must be submitted in writing to the Absence Management Department.  In the event of an emergency, the staff member should make the request as quickly as possible.  Absence Management will respond, in writing, regarding an approval or denial of such request.  

Employees assigned a specific number of contract/work days accrue sick leave. You may use sick leave for personal illness or injury and for the care of immediate family members as defined by Atlanta Public Schools.

If you get hurt on the job, report your injury to your supervisor and complete a First Report of Injury Form (WC-1) within 48 hours. You must seek treatment from the authorized Panel of Physicians. You must use your sick leave for the first seven days of absence. Starting the eighth day, you may elect to continue using your sick leave in lieu of weekly workers compensation benefits. Each work site posts a Bill of Rights.