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Retirement

The Retirement Department provides employees with the opportunity to participate in the State Retirement Plans, Board Sponsored Tax-Sheltered Annuity program, and voluntary retirement savings programs. This section offers in-depth resources to help you learn about the retirement programs available or assist in the retirement process.

  • Goal

    • Ensure that retirement policies are applied on a consistent basis and comply with state and federal law and district policy

  • Objective

    • Provide guidance on the district retirement policies and programs including but not limited to Teacher Retirement System (TRS), Public Service Employee Retirement System (PSERS), Employees’ retirement System (ERS), and Tax Sheltered Annuities (TSA).

  • Responsibilities

    Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

    • Manage and coordinate activities and transactions related to TRS and PSERS retirement files, including benefit plans for retirees
    • Coordinate TRS and PRS training programs; individual retiree counseling sessions, and quarterly information sessions for retirement eligible employees
    • Manage communication process for 403(b) program eligibility requirements via quarterly Newsflashes

TRS administers the fund from which teachers in the state’s public schools receive retirement benefits. TRS offers a defined benefit plan of retirement, also known as 401(a). As its name implies, your retirement benefit is “defined” by calculation using your years of membership service, the average of your highest 24 consecutive months of salary*, and a 2% multiplier. Under this plan, you assume no investment risk, plus you have survivor and disability protection while you are an active member. Also, you are guaranteed retirement income for the rest of your life. TRS benefits are administered and paid in accordance with laws enacted by the Georgia Legislature.

Membership: Full-time DeKalb County School District employees in these job categories/positions: teachers; paraprofessionals; administrators/supervisors; nurses; campus resources officers; and clerical staff. All members are required to contribute 6% of earnable compensation to TRS by payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis.

  • Two Northside 75
    Suite 100
    Atlanta, GA 30318
  • www.trsga.com
  • 404-352-6500 or 1-800-352-0650

PSERS was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1970. The purpose of this plan was to provide a supplemental retirement plan for public school employees who did not belong to Teachers Retirement System (TRS). This means that it is intended as an addition to other retirement income. This is a State of Georgia defined benefit plan. This plan is funded by required DeKalb County School District employee contributions and State of Georgia contributions and is administered through the Employees Retirement System of Georgia (ERSGA).

New Members who join PSERS beginning July 1, 2012, will pay a required contribution of $10.00 per month for the 9-month contribution period of September through May. This amounts to an annual contribution of $90. Members who first joined PSERS prior to July 1, 2012, will continue to pay a required contribution of $4 each month, for an annual contribution of $36.

If you qualify by years of service and age, PSERS provides lifetime retirement benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits. At retirement, options may also be chosen that can provide lifetime benefits to your beneficiary beginning at your death. The amount you receive is calculated by years of Creditable Service multiplied by a specific dollar amount. The dollar amount is set by the Georgia General Assembly. Effective July 1, 2019, the current dollar amount is $15.50.

Membership: Members include bus drivers, food service workers, and maintenance or custodial personnel. Some managers in these positions are members of TRS.

Members who leave employment before retirement are entitled to a refund of member contributions plus interest.

PSERS Member Statements are available online at www.ers.ga.gov.

The PSERS Website provides complete information about this retirement plan

  • Two Northside 75
    Suite 300
    Atlanta, GA 30318
  • www.ers.ga.gov
  • 404-350-6300 or 1-800-805-4609

The Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) was established and began administering retirement benefits for State of Georgia employees on January 1, 1950, as provided by laws enacted through the Georgia General Assembly.

If you are a newly hired, full-time, DeKalb County School District employee and you are a current member of ERS, you have the option to: (1) continue membership under ERS or (2) elect membership with Teachers Retirement System (TRS).

Employees who wish to continue their ERS membership must contact the DCSD Retirement Specialist at (678) 676-0362.

Teachers Retirement System (TRS)

TRS members who are eligible for retirement should consider attending one of the TRS Information Meetings offered at the DCSD Division of Human Resources.

Several meetings are held each year.  Dates and times of these meetings are communicated to district employees via newsflash.

Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS)

PSERS members who are eligible for retirement should consider attending one of the PSERS Information Meetings offered at the DCSD Division of Human Resources.

Several meetings are held each year.  Dates and times of these meetings are communicated to district employees via newsflash.

Optional Supplemental Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans (TSA)

DeKalb County School District offers all employees the option to contribute to a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity and a 457 deferred compensation plan. Employee contributions may be excluded from taxable income up to limits as set forth by the Internal Revenue Service.

For step-by-step instructions on how to begin contributions to an Optional Tax-Sheltered Annuity plan, visit the Employee Portal and download the TSA 403(b) Optional Payroll Deduction Form.
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for retirement with TRS, visit the Employee Portal.

For questions regarding DCSD’s Retirement Policy, please refer to the Board Policy GBQ– Professional Personnel Retirement Policy.

Yes. Employees can enroll in a 403(b) and/or 457 plan at any time.

Vesting means you are entitled to collect a pension when you have reached the eligible age to retire and/or have earned the required number of service years as stated by your retirement plan.

Get details on vesting with Teachers Retirement System of Georgia.

You must have ten (10) years of creditable service to be vested with Teachers Retirement System (TRS).

You must have ten (10) years of creditable service to be vested with Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS).

TRS Retirees: Retirement with TRS may begin either:
  • With the completion of thirty years of TRS creditable service, regardless of age
  • With the completion of at least ten years of TRS creditable service and attainment of age sixty (60)
  • Completion of at least twenty-five years of TRS creditable service, regardless of age, with a reduced benefit
PSERS Retirees: Retirement with PSERS may begin either:
    • With the completion of at least ten years of PSERS creditable service and attainment of age 65
    • Attainment of age sixty with at least ten (10) years of PSERS creditable service with a reduced benefit.

    TRS Retirees: Sick leave can be used for service credit with TRS. Members must have a minimum of sixty (60) sick leave days accumulated to receive service credit.
    • You may be paid for unused sick leave days upon your retirement provided you have a combined minimum of 60 days of unused sick leave, for which you have not been paid, from your current and all previous TRS covered employers; and you have established 40 years of creditable service with TRS and cannot apply accumulated sick leave to increase your creditable service with TRS pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 47-3-92.
    • Sick leave days transferred from other school systems will be excluded from the Sick Leave Financial Exchange Program.
    • Unused sick leave days earned by an employee may be redeemed under the Sick Leave Financial Exchange Program at retirement according to the following schedule:
      Unused Sick Leave Days Rate of Pay
      Less than 25 days $0.00 per day
      26–50 days $3.00 per day
      51–75 days $4.00 per day
      76–100 days $5.00 per day
      101–125 days $6.00 per day
      126–150 days $7.00 per day
      151–175 days $8.00 per day
      176 days or more $9.00 per day

    PSERS Retirees: PSERS does not allow the use of unused sick leave toward retirement service credit.

    Unused sick leave days earned by an employee may be redeemed under the Sick Leave Financial Exchange Program at retirement according to the following schedule:

    Unused Sick Leave Days Rate of Pay
    Less than 25 days $0.00 per day
    26–50 days $3.00 per day
    51–75 days $4.00 per day
    76–100 days $5.00 per day
    101–125 days $6.00 per day
    126–150 days $7.00 per day
    151–175 days $8.00 per day
    176 days or more $9.00 per day

    TRS and PSERS retirees covered by State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) and Dental Insurance at retirement are eligible to maintain coverage for life. Premiums for SHBP and Dental coverage may be deducted from your monthly TRS or PSERS benefit. Other benefits, such as life insurance, vision insurance, and STD/LTD insurance, may not be continued into retirement.

    **NOTE – Only current benefits carry over into retirement (i.e. single coverage continues as single coverage into retirement; if current employee + spouse coverage, only employee + spouse carries over into retirement).

    Retirees have an opportunity each year to change their health insurance plan during the annual Retiree Option Change Period (ROCP). If you experience a qualifying event, you may be able to make changes for yourself and your dependents. A complete description of qualifying events is available on the SHBP website. Learn more>>

    Yes, but in accordance with state law, certain conditions and restrictions apply.

    Tax Sheltered Annuities

    2% Match/Enrollment
    The Supplemental Retirement 2% Match Program is a tax deferred savings program where the DCSD Board of Education contributes 2% of an employee’s base salary into a 403(b)-account held with one of the four BOE approved optional Investment and Retirement Providers – Fidelity, EMPOWER, Corebridge, and VOYA.

    To participate in the 2% match program, an employee must meet the following criteria:

    • Full-time status with at least five (5) years of continuous full-time employment with DCSD after January 1, 2011
    • Contribute at least 2% of their base salary into an approved DCSD 403(b)-account (Fidelity, EMPOWER, Corebridge, VOYA)

    Employees must apply during open enrollment periods throughout the year. Notification is sent district wide to employees during open enrollment.

    Tax Sheltered Annuities

    For the current year’s IRS published guidelines on IRS Limitations for 403(b) annual contributions and catch-up contributions, please consult the IRS website under Topic Index: Retirement Topics – 403(b) Contribution Limits

    DCSD Supplemental Retirement Plan for PSERS participants

    DeKalb County School District establishes a Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) – 403(B) Account for all employees in the Public School Employee Retirement Plan. DeKalb County School District contributes 8% of the eligible employees’ gross salary to a TSA account for each employee through Fidelity Investments.

    Optional Supplemental Retirement – 403(b)/457 Plans

    Optional Supplemental Retirement is a tax deferred savings program in which the DCSD Board of Education allows employees through pre-tax payroll deduction to enroll into an individual supplemental Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b)/457 retirement plan. Employees can enroll at any time.

    Employees can sign up with any of the following four (4) retirement investment firms:

    Employees can contact a DCSD Retirement Specialist for a list of representatives from each Investment Firm.

    Yes, please complete the Optional TSA Payroll Deduction Form for any changes.

    Yes, please complete the Optional TSA Payroll Deduction Form to stop your contributions at any time.

    All Full-Time eligible employees, with 5 years of continuous service after January 1, 2011 and contribute at least 2% into a DCSD approved TSA 403(b) account.

    After 5 years of continuous full-time employment after January 1, 2011. You cannot have a break in service. You must contribute at least 2% of your salary into a DCSD Board approved TSA 403(B) account.

    DCSD will automatically contribute the 2% match to your established Optional TSA 403(b) account.

    Employees with multiple Optional 403(b) accounts can only select ONE provider for the employer 2% match contribution.  Please complete Section 3: Employer Match of the Optional TSA Payroll Deduction Form and select the vendor in which you would like the 2% match to be contributed.

    No. DCSD will automatically stop their 2% contribution.

    No, DCSD will only match 2% of your contribution.

    No, DCSD contributions to your Optional TSA 403(b) account will not appear on your paycheck stub. Please contact your TSA vendor for more information.

    No. You must establish your own individual Optional TSA 403(b) account and contribute at least 2% of your salary.
    • Retirement Specialist
    • 678-676-0362
    • retirement@dekalbschoolsga.org
    • Teacher Retirement System (TRS)
    • Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS)
    • Employees’ Retirement System (ERS)
    • Tax Sheltered Annuities (TSA)