In December 2011, CalSTRS held an information session discussing the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's recent report, Exposure Drafts on Pension Accounting and Financial Reporting.

The session provided current information about both what GASB is proposing and how it will affect employers and their districts. The session covered:

• An overview of GASB's proposed changes
• An overview of CalSTRS feedback to GASB
• A recap of the San Francisco GASB hearing
• Steps employers can take to prepare for these changes

Because CalSTRS members do not pay into Social Security on CalSTRS earnings, Social Security law may reduce member Social Security benefit.

A webinar from the Social Security Administration explains how members of some public employee and teacher pensions may be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

On October 26, 2010, CalSTRS held a webinar, Perspectives: CalSTRS 2011, focused on sorting fact from fiction surrounding retirement benefits and the long-term funding status of CalSTRS.

Active members joined the webinar to hear a presentation from CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes and Deputy CEO Peggy Plett followed by a question and answer session. Questions received from members that were not answered during the webinar will be included in the next issue of CalSTRS Connections.

On June 10, 2010, CalSTRS presented an audio town hall meeting, Fact or Fiction About Your CalSTRS Pension.

Retired members called in to listen to a presentation from CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes and Deputy CEO Peggy Plett. The focus was sorting out fact from fiction surrounding the status of CalSTRS retirement benefits. Members could also ask questions.

Questions that were not answered during the call were included in the Summer 2010 issue of Retired Educator.

On April 30, 2010, CalSTRS held a webinar which began with a discussion by Deputy CEO Peggy Plett of how school furloughs can affect members’ benefits and the accepted methods for reporting furlough earnings to CalSTRS.

Deputy CEO Ed Derman follows up with a discussion of the effect of postretirement employment, earnings limitations and exemptions on retirees’ monthly benefits

Additional Resources

Employer Directive:
ED10-01 (PDF; 52KB)
Postretirement Earnings Changes for 2010-11 Fiscal Year

Employer Information Circular:
EIC09-1 Volume 25 Issue 3 (PDF; 28KB)
Effects of Reduction of Funds to Schools

On April 30, 2009, CalSTRS presented its first audio town hall meeting, The Economy, CalSTRS Portfolio and You.

More than 600 members called in to listen to a presentation from CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes and Deputy CEO Peggy Plett. The focus was the challenging financial climate and the security of the Teachers' Retirement Fund. Members could also ask questions.

Questions that were not answered during the call were included in the Summer 2009 issue of Retired Educator.

Artist Paul Housberg discusses the design and function of the art glass cornerstone located in the CalSTRS Headquarters lobby.

He explains how reflections of the nearby river and the surrounding area in the art glass can make visitors to the building more aware of their environment.

Chief Executive Officer Jack Ehnes and Board Chair Dana Dillon walk you through the enhanced benefits CalSTRS Headquarters offers members, business partners, staff and the environment.

This photo essay presentation summarizes the building’s construction and completion. Read why a new headquarters was built and then watch the presentation.