Convincing sizable companies to change their policies isn’t easy for CalSTRS or any other investor. It becomes easier, though, when investors stand together. That’s why we co-founded and are an active member of Climate Action 100+.

In January 2022, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to help California school districts address staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing districts to hire retired teachers and public education personnel more quickly and efficiently.

Our lives and many of our daily rituals changed dramatically over the past two years.

Soaring prices for food, gas and other goods have almost everyone worried, especially those with fixed incomes. We offer two programs intended to ease the impact of inflation on our members.

It is said that during spaceflight, when an astronaut first looks back to gaze upon our planet they experience what is called the “overview effect”—an overwhelming cognitive shift in awareness of one's place in the universe and the fragility of life on Earth. In an instant, this reality can reshape one’s worldview, bringing our natural environment into focus, melting away national borders, and sharing in the triumph of the human spirit. At CalSTRS, we recognize our small but meaningful place in the universe and the reason for our existence.

Tax season is here and the filing deadline is approaching. While it’s too late to make adjustments for your 2021 taxable income, it’s a good time to get a head start for 2022.

As educators, your workdays start before school begins and end well after the final bell as you organize your classroom, grade papers and prepare the following day’s lesson plans. When you finally have time to peruse retirement application forms, newsletters for teachers, or educational videos related to your pensions, you deserve simplicity, efficiency and convenience.

Happy New Year! We are excited to see you as we gradually and cautiously reopen our CalSTRS in-person offices. In-person visits are just one of the many ways we can help you plan for retirement.

Whether you’re adventuring in the snow, spending quiet time with your family and friends, or something in between, we hope you’re enjoying your well-deserved holiday vacation.

When you’re beginning a new career, retirement can seem a hundred years away. But consider this: your CalSTRS retirement benefit on average will only replace 50% to 60% of your preretirement income.

We know nothing can replicate person-to-person interaction, so we appreciate and admire the way you and your fellow educators have adapted to our pandemic protocols over the past couple years.

Your annual Retirement Progress Report, which was updated in September and is available now via myCalSTRS, is a personalized overview of your CalSTRS account and benefits, including detailed information and resources for planning your financial future.

Retirement is changing rapidly around the world. The norm of winding down a career at age 65 is no longer so normal, and for many, retirement doesn’t mean a permanent departure from your craft.

At CalSTRS, we want to do more than meet your basic retirement planning needs. We want to talk to you face to face, even as we wait a little bit…

2020 was a bear of a year. But it came with a bull of a market. On July 26, 2021, we announced the CalSTRS Investment Portfolio earned 27.2% over the 12-month period ending June 30, 2021, which is well above the 7% assumed rate of return. This news was “nothing short of spectacular,” Chief Investment Officer Christopher J. Ailman said of the performance of the $308.6 billion portfolio we manage on your behalf as a CalSTRS member.

While you’re wishing your college roommate happy birthday on Facebook, sharing a new recipe on Pinterest or liking photos of your cousins on Instagram, drop by and say hi to CalSTRS.

Happy Earth Day from all of us at CalSTRS. We take seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth while we secure the financial future of California’s educators. When CalSTRS makes the promise of a secure retirement to a new educator, we’re also thinking about how climate change will impact our environment by the time they retire.

Take part in CalSTRS’ Spring Into Retirement event March 22–April 8, 2021 by enrolling in any of three educational webinars. The webinars will help you understand your CalSTRS benefits, save additional retirement income, decide if it’s a good time to retire, learn how to fill out and submit your Service Retirement Application, and know what to expect in retirement.

CalSTRS recently noticed a significant increase in teacher retirements. In the second half of 2020, the number of retirements (3,202) increased 26% over the same period in 2019.

As your retirement plan, CalSTRS is dedicated to securing your financial future and helping you get there. The start of a new year provides an opportunity to check on your retirement planning and set achievable goals for the future.

CalSTRS is committed to staying connected with you in the new year, with ongoing webinars and retirement educational sessions in both individual and small group formats.

CalSTRS Pension2 offers the opportunity for CalSTRS members to build supplemental retirement savings through low cost, flexible 403(b), Roth 403(b), 457(b) and Roth 457(b) plans. Pension2 complements your CalSTRS retirement benefit and provides additional security for you in retirement.

This Veterans Day, we’ll be thinking of our CalSTRS members who have served in the past and those still active in the reserves.

Whether you’re a new educator or in the homestretch of your teaching career, it’s a great time to review your Retirement Progress Report.

In honor of Latino Heritage Month, we checked in with CalSTRS member Joe I. Mendoza.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. While you can’t predict when a future crisis will happen, you can take steps today to make sure you’re prepared when it does.

As you prepare for a new school year, it’s a good time to review your myCalSTRS account and update your personal information.

CalSTRS continues to focus on serving our members during the fight against COVID-19. We have moved all member services to virtual or telephone sessions. To protect the health and safety of members and employees, our member service centers will remain closed to visits and forms drop-off until further notice.

Maintaining the integrity of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System is our top priority. In support of this effort, we launched the CalSTRS Compliance and Ethics Hotline—a safe, secure and confidential way to report unethical acts or pension abuse. Any member of the public or CalSTRS employee can make anonymous reports via web or phone.

The Environmental Defense Fund is one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, with more than 2.5 million members and a staff of 700 scientists, economists, policy experts and other professionals around the world. CalSTRS consults with EDF on environmental issues that may impact our investments and engagement activities.

If you’re planning to retire after this school year and are wondering how COVID-19 might affect those plans, rest assured, CalSTRS is continuing to process retirement applications without delay.

We celebrate educators at CalSTRS all year long, so we wanted to give you some extra kudos to celebrate National Teachers’ Day this May 5.

Every day brings new developments related to the coronavirus, and the uncertainty can be unsettling. During these challenging times, we want you to know that the health and wellness of our members and staff are our top priorities. We remain committed to securing the financial future of California’s educators. You can rely on us to pay your benefits and help you prepare for retirement.

It’s February and love is in the air! It’s the perfect time to appreciate the contributions our teachers make to benefit the lives of their students. We asked our members what fuels their passion and their secret for a rewarding career.

In an age when smartphones and web apps are displacing real-life interaction, sometimes “old-fashioned” communication is the most effective way to have your questions answered.

Most folks’ New Year’s resolutions are about exercising more, eating healthy or saving more money. One of CalSTRS’ New Year’s resolutions is to keep up an annual tradition: learning from you.

It’s the holiday season, and right now you’re probably worried about finding the right gift for everyone on your list. We understand the feeling! But while you’re fulfilling everyone else’s holiday wishes, consider giving yourself a more secure retirement by starting or increasing your contribution to your supplemental savings account.

In a world with few assurances about future income, the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program is like a security blanket for California educators. If you’ve worked a full career in education, 50-60% of your preretirement income will be replaced with your pension.