Retirement Information
Teachers’ Retirement Fund
The Teachers’ Retirement Fund is a special trust fund established by law that holds the assets of the CalSTRS Defined Benefit, Defined Benefit Supplement and Cash Balance Benefit programs. Assets include contributions from:
Members
Employers
State of California
We cover state, school, and contracting local public agency employees, as well as some judges and legislators. Retirement benefits are calculated using a defined formula rather than contributions and earnings to a savings plan. The member's years of service credit, age at retirement, and final compensation are used in the formula. Additionally, retirement formulas vary based on the member's employer, occupation, and specific provisions in the contract between CalPERS and the employer.
Our cost-saving alternative to Social Security for part-time, seasonal and temporary (PST) employees reduces contributions from 12.4% to 7.5%, offers pre-tax contributions, and provides more take-home pay.
CalSTRS and Social Security
As a California public school educator, you do not pay into Social Security, so you will not receive Social Security benefits for your CalSTRS-covered position.
If you expect to receive a Social Security check through your spouse or other employment, two federal rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset—could leave you with a smaller Social Security check or no check at all.
Your CalSTRS retirement benefit will not be reduced by these rules.
Contact Medicare
Need help beyond what’s on Medicare.gov?
You can talk or live chat with a real person, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except some federal holidays.)
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048
403-200 SF Salary Reduction Agreement_2023.pdf457-401 Salary Reduction Agreement_2023.pdf403B, 457 and roth
SchoolsFirst is the District’s third-party administrator (TPA) that ensures both the employee and employer are complying with the Internal Revenue Service rules/regulations related to this program.
Form(s) on the left is the SchoolsFirst Plan Administration Salary Reduction Agreement (403B & 457). Once the form has been completed, sign and date it, then fax it back to 714.258.4262 or email to: rpa@schoolsfirstfcu.org
You may also make changes to contributions available through the Plan Vue Plan Administration website pa.schoolsfirstfcu.org; user guide below for your reference.
Here are some videos you might find helpful:
How to log in and establish a username and password
How to navigate the site to make changes to the contribution amount
If you have questions, please contact a Plan Representative at 800.462.8328, extension 4727. We’re available to assist you Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., PST.
You may also make changes to contributions available through the Plan Vue Plan Administration website pa.schoolsfirstfcu.org; user guide attached for your reference.
PlanVue Guide.pdfRetirement Options for Part-Time Faculty Final 05.13.24.docxPart-Time educator
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CALSTRS) - Enrolling in the Defined Benefit Program
Please read the fine print on Section 2 of the ES350 form (Permissive Membership).
If you decline membership, you will be provided with the PARS Retirement Plan.
As a part-time educator, you may choose the Defined Benefit Program at any time during your career. You are vested after 5 full years (1.0 FTE) of teaching. Being vested means you qualify for retirement benefits after 5 years of service. For example, if you work part time at a .50 FTE, on average, it may take upwards of 10 years to be vested.
Contribution Rates
10.205% for employees enrolling after January 1, 2013.
10.25% for employees enrolled prior to January 1, 2013.
Employer contributes 19.10%. Employee/Employer rates may or may not change. The changes are determined by the CALSTRS pension. Please review the CALSTRS handbook (linked here) and reach out to CALSTRS if you have any further questions. CALSTRS Member Services: 1-800-228-5453 from Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm.
If you are a current California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CALPERS) member or CALPERS annuitant: Please reach out to CALPERS at 1-888-225-7377 and inquire about how this can affect your current or future retirement. CALPERS links for more information: https://news.calpers.ca.gov/school-members-join-calpers-join-calstrs/ https://www.calstrs.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/joincalstrsjoincalpers.pdf
ParttimeEducatorSlides-Nov2023.pdf