Retirement & Pensions
Education news, analysis, and opinion about school staff retirement and the related financial obligations and issues for districts and states
Teaching Profession
Explainer
Teacher Pay, Explained: Salary, Benefits, and Pensions
Learn how teachers are compensated, and the role that states and districts play in setting pay.
Teaching Profession
Video
Will the New Law on Teacher Retirement Benefits Affect You? Here’s How to Know
The Social Security Fairness Act has significant implications for educators who live in these 15 states.
Teaching Profession
Thousands of Teachers Will Get a Retirement Boost. Here's How It Works
School workers in states where districts don't participate in Social Security are poised to see bigger monthly checks.
Teaching Profession
Many Educators Across America Are on the Verge of a Retirement Benefits Boost
A bill removing restrictions on Social Security benefits for some teachers is headed to Biden's desk.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
How Teachers Can Prepare for Retirement
After years in the classroom, the time is approaching to move on. So the big question is, what’s next?
Budget & Finance
From Our Research Center
The 'Zero-Sum Game' of School Budgets and Teacher Pensions
Pensions represent a rising cost, but many school district administrators don't understand how they work.
School & District Management
Webinar
How Pensions Work: Why It Matters for K-12 Education
Panelists explain the fundamentals of teacher pension finances — how they are paid for, what drives their costs, and their impact on K-12 education.
Teaching Profession
'Never Stop Learning’: Inside the Club for Retired Teachers
A club for retired teachers keeps lifelong educators connected to the young people in today's classrooms.
Budget & Finance
ESG: The Hotly Contested Investment Strategy That Could Pose Trouble for Teacher Pensions
Pension funds are facing political pressure either to incorporate social goals into their investment approaches, or to do the opposite.
Budget & Finance
The Ballooning Expense That's Cutting Into Funding for Students
The costs of retirement benefits and unfunded pension liabilities have grown far more quickly than overall spending on K-12 schools.
Budget & Finance
The Bleak Outlook for Teacher Pensions: What You Need to Know
Public pensions for teachers and other school workers were only 75 percent funded by states and districts last year—a steep drop from 2021.
Recruitment & Retention
Part-Time Teaching Gigs Help Keep Experienced Educators. But the Approach Is Rare
The strategy might be one way to deal with an aging teacher force and a limited supply of new teachers.
Teaching Profession
The Cryptocurrency Collapse Spells Trouble For Teacher Pensions. Here's How
A pension fund expert explains how the FTX collapse could affect educators and school systems.
Teaching Profession
In Their Own Words
'I Just Want to Get Better': A Teacher With Long COVID Retires Earlier Than She'd Hoped
A former Massachusetts teacher shares how long COVID damaged her cognitive abilities and accelerated her retirement.