Fulton County teachers get more leave days a year than other metro teachers

Fulton County is far and away the best place to work if you’re a metro Atlanta teacher looking for the most days off a year.

Fulton teachers with ten or more years experience receive 20 general leave days a year, which is among the most in the nation, according to a survey by the Washington, D.C.–based National Council on Teacher Quality, which ranked 113 schools systems across the country.

By contrast, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County teachers get only 12.5 general leave days a year. Of the core metro counties, Cobb County offers the fewest (11.9). In Fulton, even teachers with less than ten years’ experience get 15 general leave days a year.

General leave includes sick days and personal days off, according to the study.

Teachers in Newark, N.J., with 25 years of experience get 28 general leave days a year, more than any school system in the country. The Hartford, Conn., school system offers fewer days (25), but every teacher is granted that total irrespective of experience. Teachers working for the Desoto County (Miss.) school system, get the fewest days off a year: nine.

Teachers already work fewer days per year — about 185 — than employees in other professions, who average about 230 work days a year. National Council on Teacher Quality president Kate Walsh said that although public schools have cut budgets in recent years because of the economic downturn, few if any have cut days off.