Not necessarily. Charter schools each decide what retirement benefits they will offer. They do not automatically provide pension coverage through the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System. However, they may opt to do so.

No. They may designate someone else if they choose.

If you are an appointed teacher, the box may be blank because you have not filed an enrollment application or (if you have) because your application is still being processed. If you are not an appointed teacher and have not filed an enrollment application with the Teachers’ Retirement System, the box is blank because you are not yet a TRS member; you must file an enrollment application to join TRS.

You may qualify for a different tier if you switched tiers during a tier change period, or if you transferred your membership to TRS from another eligible retirement system. In addition, you can apply for reinstatement to your previous status if you are presently a TRS in-service member and lost your tier membership in TRS or another New York City or New York State public retirement system. You may obtain a Membership/Tier Reinstatement Request Form (SD42) in the “Tools” section of the TRS website at www.trsnyc.org or by calling TRS at 888-8NYCTRS. To be reinstated, you must pay back the contributions that were refunded when your membership ended, plus 5 percent interest from the date of the refund to the date of repayment. BERS members should call 929-305-3800.