Kansas teachers could receive more in retirement under new bill

Kansas teachers could move to a retirement plan with better long-term benefits if a new bill is advanced. Lawmakers hope the change may help stem the state's increasingly severe teacher shortage.

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March 6, 2024 - 2:42 PM

Under new legislation, Kansas teachers could access a formerly closed tier of the state’s public employee retirement system. Photo by Getty Images/Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Teachers in the state could move to a retirement plan with better long-term benefits if new legislation is advanced. The change may help stem the state’s increasingly severe teacher shortage.

Timothy Graham, director of government relations and legislative affairs for the Kansas National Education Association, pointed to state vacancies during a Tuesday hearing on the potential change. In fall 2023, the state had an estimated 1,810 teacher vacancies according to the Kansas State Department of Education. In fall 2022, there were 1,650 reported…

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