Latest news on teachers retirement age

The retirement age for teachers in the United States is a topic of ongoing debate and discussion. Here are some of the latest news and updates on the issue:

Federal Legislation:

• In 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Teacher Retirement Fairness Act" (H.R. 1444), which would have allowed teachers to retire at age 60 with full benefits, regardless of their years of service. However, the bill did not pass the Senate.
• In 2022, the "Retirement Security for Public Servants Act" (H.R. 5998) was introduced in the House, which would increase the retirement age for federal employees, including teachers, to 67.

State-by-State Developments:

• California: In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill (AB 1413) that increased the retirement age for new teachers from 60 to 67, with some exceptions for teachers with 30 or more years of service.
• Illinois: In 2020, the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill (HB 2543) that would have increased the retirement age for teachers from 67 to 70, but it was vetoed by Governor J.B. Pritzker.
• New York: In 2022, the New York State Legislature passed a bill (S. 8444) that would increase the retirement age for teachers from 62 to 65, but it has not yet been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Court Rulings:

• In 2020, a federal appeals court ruled that the Social Security Administration's (SSA) decision to increase the full retirement age for teachers from 65 to 67 was lawful (Social Security Administration v. National Education Association, 2020).
• In 2022, a California court ruled that the state's teacher retirement system (CalSTRS) was unconstitutional because it did not provide adequate benefits to teachers (California Teachers Association v. State of California, 2022).

Other Developments:

• The National Education Association (NEA) has been advocating for changes to the teacher retirement system, including increasing the retirement age and improving benefits.
• The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has also been pushing for changes to the teacher retirement system, including increasing the retirement age and improving benefits.
• Some experts argue that increasing the retirement age for teachers could help address the teacher shortage and improve the sustainability of teacher pension systems.

It's worth noting that the retirement age for teachers can vary depending on the state and school district, and some teachers may have different retirement options or benefits.