new teacher articles

Know your rights: Service and pension credit

Feb 2, 2006 11:15 AM

Forget about MasterCard and Visa! There’s a different kind of credit you may be eligible for — credit that can reduce your probation period or improve your pension. It pays to know your rights.

Jarema credit. Newly appointed teachers ordinarily must serve three years of probation before being eligible for tenure. However, the probation period can be reduced if you qualify for Jarema credit, named after the state legislator who sponsored the law.

Regular substitute teachers who previously taught the same subject area and level in New York City and received satisfactory ratings can reduce the probationary period by up to two years. Teachers who are tenured in another New York City license area can reduce probation by one year. And teachers who taught and were tenured outside New York City but within New York State may apply for “traveling tenure,” which can cut the probation period by one year.

To apply for Jarema credit, complete an Application for Reduction of Probationary Period, available on the DOE’s Web site or from your ROC. Return your completed form as soon as possible after your appointment to the Division of Human Resources, Office of Regional Field Services, 65 Court St., Room 811, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Be sure to make copies of your application forms for your file before submitting them. If you decide to mail your application, send it “Return Receipt Requested” and hold on to the receipt.

Once you have satisfactorily completed your probation period, and achieved permanent state certification, you will have full and permanent tenure.

Pension transfer. Teachers who joined TRS after being members of another retirement system may be eligible to transfer credited service and funds from the previous pension system to TRS upon regular appointment. That may be a smart move if you were a member of another public retirement system in the state or city of New York. Speak to a UFT pension consultant before deciding.

Once you have a TRS membership number, you can ask to transfer your credit. Contact your previous retirement system in writing and file the necessary forms to have your membership transferred to TRS. Remember to send all correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep copies for your own records. If you still have questions about transferring, call your UFT borough office and ask to speak to a pension consultant.