Retirement

• The Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System is the retirement plan for school district employees in the state of Oklahoma. As a state employee, contributions equal to 7% of your annual salary and benefits are made each year. You will be vested after seven years of contributions. Once vested you will receive a monthly check based on a formula at retirement. Learn more about the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System. 
• Teachers and certain other (mandated) positions are required to contribute. Many support staff must enroll or decline enrollment within 30 days of their hire date. This decision is locked in for the employee’s time with Tulsa Public Schools or any entity that participates in OTRS unless they are hired into a mandated position. 

Tulsa Public Schools employees are eligible to participate in a 403b plan with National Benefits Services (NBS) as well as a 457 plan with Fidelity Investments. Please contact the Benefits team for additional information or forms.

If you are a member of the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System, you should  contact them at least six months before your retirement date. Learn more about retirement timelines and steps to retirement on the OTRS Website here. 

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• Employees can have up to three different retirement dates when retiring through OTRS and Tulsa Public Schools.  
• OTRS Retirement Date is always the first of the month that an employee retires 
• TPS Retirement Date should be the last day that an employee works or receives pay  
• Insurance (EGID) Retirement Date is the first of the month after an employee’s active insurance ends 
• Example: John is a teacher who is retiring with OTRS on April 1, however he is working through April 4. His OTRS retirement date would be April 1, but his TPS retirement date would be April 4. His insurance retirement date would be May 1.  
• Example: Susie is a teacher who is retiring at the end of the school year and completes her contract for the year. Her retirement date with OTRS is July 1, but her TPS retirement date would be the last day she worked in May. Her insurance retirement date would be September 1 since she completed her contract for the school year. 
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Depending on your circumstance, there are several ways to keep your insurance when you separate from the district. 

• COBRA allows most employees to maintain group health insurance and take over paying their own premiums after a separation through Employees Group Insurance Division (EGID).  
• If you have worked for Tulsa Public Schools for 10 years or more, insurance may be available to you after separating from the district through the state of Oklahoma. For more information, contact usE-Mail benefits@tulsaschools.org or visit EGID's Website. 

Employees who leave the district after a minimum of 10 years of continuous service shall be paid for accrued sick day days at the rate of $30 per day. Payout rates are as follows:

• Employees with 10-15 years of service receive 50% of the daily rate
• Employees with 16 years of service receive 60% of the daily rate
• Employees with 17 years of service receive 70% of the daily rate
• Employees with 18 years of service receive 80% of the daily rate
• Employees with 19 years of service receive 90% of the daily rate
• Employees with 20+ years of service receive 100% of the daily rate

Employees who resign from the district or who are terminated for criminal activity are not eligible for sick day payout. 

Compensation and Benefits 
3027 S. New Haven Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74114

918-746-6394
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