As a state legislator, you're well aware of the fiscal pressures that have caused many states to change their pension systems. But you should also be aware of the impact that pension reform has on public education. This brief guide shows you how and why pension programs affect your state's efforts to attract and retain the best teachers. It…

Describes a special incentive program for teachers provided by merchants in Durham, North Carolina. Teachers are given a "Teacher Express Card" that can be used for discounts at local stores. (MD)

To facilitate teacher mobility in the Northeast, barriers to interstate movement must be lessened. Presently, teachers are restricted from transferring pension assets across state lines; they can lose up to 40 percent of their retirement benefits, can usually transfer only part of their years of service, and may be financially unable to "buy…

Designed for faculty and exempt administrators at Washington's community colleges, this handbook explains available retirement plans, deductions, and options. First, a glossary of terms and an index to sections of the handbook dealing with the concepts are provided. The bulk of the handbook uses a question/answer format to present information on…

Regulations for sick leave and substitute teachers, adopted by the North Carolina State Board of Education, are presented in outline form. Sick leave regulations provide for sick leave eligibility, sick leave earned, leave charges, sick leave accumulation, advancement of sick leave, verification of sick leave, repayment of excessive leave,…

This booklet provides an overview of the principal concepts of pension portability. Pension portability has become an area of increasing interest since a lack of portability discourages veteran teachers from seeking teaching opportunities in other districts or states. This obstacle can force teachers to abandon the profession, thus contributing to…

Granting unpaid leaves of absence to teachers who are at or near the top of the school district's teacher pay scale will save the district money. Such leaves benefit teachers by satisfying whatever needs inspired their requests, and offer students a new enthusiastic teacher in the classroom. (Author/MLF)

Suggests some operating principles for job candidates for academic appointments. Notes that candidates should receive offers in writing. Lists compensation, perquisites, fringe benefits, and other conditions that candidates should negotiate. (RS)

A guide, intended to help independent schools attract and retain competent people through appropriate compensation packages, provides the basis for a review of a school's current general benefits program. It also contains suggestions for improving compensation packages by offering a wider range of tax-favored nonsalary benefits without necessarily…

This pamphlet provides information for teachers contemplating employment in Yukon Territory, Canada. A preface briefly describes the political history and government of the Yukon, and emphasizes the frontier nature of the region. In both English and French, the paper discusses the curriculum, school terms and vacations, the Yukon Teachers'…

Recruiting options for securing sought-after teachers include one-time bonuses on hiring or after the first year; release-time with pay or a shortened workday; longer work year with paid time for professional development, accelerated sabbatical leaves, or paying teachers to take advanced courses; and supplementary salary schedules. (MJL)

This report presents the Teacher Retirement System of Texas's (TRS's) strategic plan for teacher retirement in the state of Texas for the years 1999-2003. The mission of the TRS is to deliver retirement and related benefits authorized by law for members and their beneficiaries and to prudently invest and manage the assets held in trust for members…

This update of a report originally issued in 1990 provides an overview of the federal tax rules as they pertain to different types of employee-benefit plans that are available to members of the National Education Association (NEA) through their employers. The report is based on the law in effect as of August 15, 1994. Section 1 examines retirement…

Techniques that reduced teacher absences from 8.7 to 7.6 per year in the Milwaukee Public Schools are described in this report. The techniques include (1) information, in each new teacher's orientation kit, on the district's attitude toward good attendance, (2) articles about sick leave in the staff bulletin, (3) periodic reminders and training…

This book discusses various pay and compensation initiatives in use nationwide, highlighting: (1) How Are Teachers Compensated?" (current status of teacher compensation and the changing context of teaching); (2) "What Have We Learned from Attempts at Change?" (three approaches to compensating teachers, recent short-lived reform…