Q&A: FLSA and Breaks

Acknowledging receipt of the employee handbook is an important step in the employment process because it shows that the employee has not only received the handbook but is also responsible for knowing its contents.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR, "Records retention"

A new HR Services webinar, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act, is now available on demand.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "EEOC compliance", "Employment law", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

This Q&A is provided to address some common questions HR Services consultants receive about breaks.

tagged: Compensation, "Employment law", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting several sessions at the TASPA Winter Conference in Round Rock, Texas, on December 7 and 8. Visit the TASPA website for more information.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development"

At the 2023 HR Academy and Advanced HR Seminar, TASB HR Services solicited new participants for HR Mentorship Connections, a program designed to connect novice HR staff with experienced HR professionals willing to serve as mentors.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development", Retention

TASB HR Services has released an online, on-demand course to help organizations create strong processes and procedures to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

tagged: "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, "HR training"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has updated the Educator Production dashboards to reflect educators who were issued a standard certificate during the 2022-2023 school year.

tagged: Certification, Employment, TEA, "Teacher certification", "Texas Education Agency"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of December. 

tagged: HR

Letters of Reasonable Assurance (LRAs) can be the best line of defense when fighting unemployment claims that may arise during regularly scheduled holiday breaks.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee notices", Employment, Unemployment

Starting in early 2024, TASB will debut a new, modern website to better serve its members.

tagged: HR

Due to changes to the FBI database, some Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist licensees must submit a new set of fingerprints before their renewal application will be approved.

tagged: "Criminal history", HR

Determining the eligibility of employees for family and medical leave (FML) can be challenging for HR departments given the unique circumstances that surface.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, HR, Leave

Statewide data highlights from the 2023-2024 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey have been released.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced a deadline of Friday, December 8, 2023, for submitting a completed 2023-2024 Annual Fingerprinting Certification and Statement of Compliance.

tagged: "Criminal history", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Registration for HR Academy and Advanced HR Seminar will close on Monday, November 6, at 5 p.m. This will allow individuals to register onsite the morning of the events.

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

The 2023-2024 TASB Extra-Duty Stipend Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

According to a Dallas Morning News study, one in three new teachers hired across Texas during the 2022-2023 school year were uncertified.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing, "Teacher certification", "Teacher shortage"

TASB HR Services has released data from the TASB/TASA Superintendent Survey and updates regarding mid-year increases and the District Personnel Salary Survey.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

There are several sample notices for Chapter 21 contract termination and nonrenewal available to members.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employee notices", Termination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is seeking public comment on new proposed “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” that outlines standards for harassment and employer liability.

tagged: "EEOC compliance"

Nestled between the energized period of back to school and a well-deserved winter break, the month of October can be a hard time of year for teachers with many experiencing what’s become known as Darktober.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee performance"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of November.

tagged: HR

Educational entities continue to struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers, and the outlook is dire as the pool of prospective educators dwindles each year.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

According to a recent SHRM article, a staggering 50 percent of candidates who have accepted a job offer back out to accept a position with another employer.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher onboarding"

According to Indeed, pay transparency has gained momentum over the last three years with 50 percent of job advertisements including salary information.  

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Salaries

TASB HR Services is excited to offer new and experienced human resources professionals crucial, targeted training to ensure they have the tools needed to confidently do their jobs.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

Effective September 13, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Wage and Hour Division and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have partnered to work more closely together to enforce workplace laws.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "EEOC compliance", "Employment law", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

At TASB HR Services, we are frequently asked by human resources staff about requirements for posting job vacancies.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, HR

New data from the EdWeek Research Center finds 63 percent of teachers polled work in the state where they lived as a child, but just over half of teachers would prefer to work in a state other than where they grew up.

tagged: "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting"

A new study from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans predicts median health care costs for corporate employers to increase by 7 percent in 2024.

tagged: Benefits, COVID-19, "Health insurance"

While total employer compensation costs rose again from March to June this year, data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows a slowdown in the rate of growth.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Pay increases"

Employers must calculate family and medical leave (FML) eligibility for exempt employees based on actual hours worked, not the established work schedule.

tagged: Exempt, "Fair Labor Standards Act", "Family and medical leave", FLSA, FMLA

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is planning to release an update to the E-Verify process to provide integration with completing Form I-9 and shift the process to new hires rather than human resources staff.

tagged: Hiring, "Personnel records"

When a nonexempt employee performs more than one job for the same employer, it can be challenging to determine the best way to pay for the hours worked in the second job and any resulting overtime.

tagged: Compensation, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Nonexempt, Overtime

Let's take a look at the typical HR department's to-do list for October.

tagged: HR

Texas community colleges have the opportunity to participate in the 2023-2024 TASB Community College Salary Survey, giving member colleges the ability to create and download custom job market reports on faculty salaries and benchmark job duty days and pay.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys"

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 11, 2023, as Texas Education Human Resources Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the important contributions made by school staff who work in human resources.

tagged: HR

An organization can require an employee to obtain a medical examination in certain circumstances.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", Employment, "Employment law", Leave

To support HR departments across the state, new service record resources are now available in the Personnel Records section of the HR Library (member login required).

tagged: "Creditable service", HR, "Personnel records"

The proposed rules to change the salary threshold to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemption tests were posted to the Federal Register on September 8, 2023.

tagged: "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Overtime

Affordability calculators for Texas education entities, available in the Compensation and Benefits section of the HR Library (member login required), can be used to ensure employers offer health coverage that is affordable according to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

tagged: ACA, "Affordable Care Act", Benefits, Compensation

The 2023-2024 TASB District Personnel Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

A Community College Personnel Records section has been added to the HR Library, several HR Library topics and tools were updated, and the revised Federal Work-Site Poster is available now.

tagged: ACA, "Affordable Care Act", Leave, "Records retention", "Worksite posting"

Recently, we've received questions asking if school bus drivers require an annual physical or if they should follow the DOT requirement of every 24 months.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law", Hiring, HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the opening of the grant opportunity for the 2024-2025 Principal Residency Grant, Cycle 7.

tagged: Recruiting, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Once established and well-maintained, strong teacher career pathways can strengthen recruitment and retention efforts while enhancing the teacher pipeline.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries, Staffing

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed threshold update to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) executive, administrative, and professional regulations on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

tagged: "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Overtime

Around this time of year, we begin receiving questions about Texas Education Human Resources Day.

tagged: HR

Districts should consider communicating with the public regarding the implementation of the House Bill (HB) 3 of the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature requirement for having an armed security officer at each campus during regular school hours.

tagged: HR

Districts across the nation are trimming administrative positions and using funds for teacher salaries and other instructional support according to a recent article from Education Week.

tagged: Salaries, Staffing

House Bill (HB) 3033 of the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature impacts governmental entities’ response to public information requests.

tagged: "Personnel records", "Records retention"

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program offered by the federal government is a current incentive for individuals to enter and remain in the teaching profession.

tagged: Benefits, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting"

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is welcoming public comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).

tagged: Benefits, "EEOC compliance", "Employment law", HR

HR Services has received several questions this week regarding a title change for LSSPs.

tagged: Certification, HR, "Job descriptions"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of September.

tagged: HR

Requests for support from our members have resulted in our department growing with the addition of three new consultants joining our HR Services team.

tagged: HR

Education, once the number one major for conferred bachelor’s degrees, has declined in popularity since the 1970s, falling to the number 10 spot in 2020-2021.

tagged: Compensation, Generations, Recruiting

Administrators should engage teachers and other employees in the evaluation process as soon as the school year begins to ensure employees are aware of performance expectations.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Teacher training", T-TESS

As educational entities are struggling to recruit and retain staff, a recent survey by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that over one in 10 public school principals left the profession between the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

The 2023-2024 Texas District Leaders Budget Cohort program kicks off with a webinar on September 12, 2023.

tagged: Compensation, "Educator contracts", "Professional development", Staffing

Do athletic coaches have to be certified teachers or contract employees? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, "Teacher certification", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

It’s important to understand the options for complying with the requirement in House Bill (HB) 3 of the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature for having an armed security officer at each campus during regular school hours.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, Staffing

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released an updated Emergency Permits Guide for Districts to help districts successfully navigate the online permit process.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, TEA, "Teacher certification", "Texas Education Agency"

This year’s TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Benefits, Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

To disseminate answers to frequently asked questions as widely as possible, TASB HR Services is beginning an Ask HR Services series.

tagged: "Creditable service", HR, "Personnel records"

On August 1, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will release a new, streamlined Form I-9.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "Personnel records"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) educator certification team is offering an opportunity for local education agencies (LEAs) to ask questions related to educator certification, salary and service, emergency permits and waivers, and other topics related to certification.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, TEA, "Teacher certification", "Texas Education Agency"

Creating a workplace that keeps employees motivated to stay engaged in their work and connected to the organization can be challenging but well worth the efforts.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Employee surveys", Recruiting, Retention

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of August.

tagged: HR

Model Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms in the HR Library and on the Department of Labor (DOL) website are still applicable even though the expiration date is June 30, 2023.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

Recent data from The ILO Group show women make up fewer than a third of superintendents in the nation’s largest 500 school districts.

tagged: Diversity

TASB HR Services staff will present several sessions at the TASPA Summer Conference in Round Rock, Texas, on July 20 and 21.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development"

School districts serving K-12 students need to be aware of several personnel-related bills passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. 

tagged: "Criminal history", Employment, "Employment law"

School districts serving K-12 students need to be aware of several safety-related bills passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. 

tagged: "Criminal history", Employment, "Employment law"

School districts serving K-12 students need to be aware of bills passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature relating to Teacher Retirement System (TRS) retirees.

tagged: "Employment law", "Retire rehire", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

TASB HR Services is proud to present Supervisor’s Guide to Managing Employee Performance, a half-day virtual training scheduled on August 2.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", "Professional development"

Recent data from Zippia indicates 45 percent of referral hires remain with the employer for longer than four years compared to only 25 percent of job board hires, making an employee referral program a solid investment for school districts.

tagged: HR, Recruiting

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced over $368 million in new grant opportunities to address educator recruitment, retention, and career advancement.

tagged: HR, Recruiting, Retention

Conducting stay interviews using thoughtful and relevant questions can provide valuable information to improve the culture of an organization and increase employee retention.  

tagged: "Employee surveys", Retention, "Teacher onboarding", "Teacher shortage"

School districts that provide mentor teachers for teachers new to the profession or new to the district must meet best practice requirements to ensure mentoring is of high quality.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Professional development", Retention, "Teacher training"

Employers should be on the lookout for unemployment benefit claims that were fraudulently filed.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", Unemployment

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of July.

tagged: HR

Organizations should consider implementing strategies to increase the number of women leaders in public education, an industry that continues to present a sizeable gender gap in school district leadership.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, Recruiting

This Q&A provides answers to some of the most common questions HR Services has received regarding the process and reasoning for calculating general pay increases (GPI) based on midpoint.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

Districts have started their summer hiring processes to secure qualified individuals for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

tagged: Certification, "Districts of innovation", DOI, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

Recent research from Gallup-Workhuman finds a correlation between employee recognition and an employee’s level of wellbeing, which together can help or harm employee performance, feelings of pay equity, and job-searching tendencies.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, Retention

Teacher satisfaction appears to be on the rise after hitting a record low last year.

tagged: HR, Surveys

The requirements for schools to post signs regarding human trafficking penalties have been amended by Senate Bill 2069 of the 88th Legislative Session of the Texas Legislature, which has been filed without the Governor’s signature.

tagged: "Employee notices", "Worksite posting"

The TASB 2023 Model Employee Handbook and the Community College model, updated with the most recent guidance and legal requirements, are now available in TASB HR Services HR Resources and can be used by members to create a custom, localized employee handbook.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

The 2023 updates to the Model Employee Handbook and the Community College Model Employee Handbook are now available to TASB HR Services members.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

Employers may have questions about an employee’s eligibility to use leave benefits when the individual declares they are in a common law marriage.

tagged: Benefits, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

A review of the retention period for Form I-9 and other key documents will help HR departments ensure records are properly handled when purging personnel files over the summer.

tagged: "Personnel records", "Records retention"

Three of the required federal work-site posters were recently updated or will be updated by the end of June.

tagged: "EEOC compliance", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "Worksite posting"

Spring is a great time to review processes for contract administration including renewals, nonrenewals, and hiring.

tagged: "Educator contracts", Hiring, Nonrenewal, "Teacher contracts"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of June.

tagged: HR

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it an opportune time to review some ways human resources professionals can support staff with mental illness.

tagged: ADA, Benefits, FMLA, HR

A surprising 80 percent of school and district leaders report they are satisfied with their job in a recent survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center.

tagged: HR, Surveys

Many districts are considering pay increases for next year that may occur after the start of the school year because they’re contingent on availability of funding — either from student enrollment increases or from passage of a voter-approved tax ratification election (VATRE).

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher contracts", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

Teachers around the nation are seeing an average of a 2.6 percent increase in pay according to the National Education Association (NEA), but when adjusted for inflation, teachers are making less than they did 10 years ago.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

It’s time to register for TASB HR Services’ upcoming virtual workshops, Managing State and Federal Leave and Get a Grip on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

tagged: Benefits, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "HR training", Leave

A recent K12 Insight report indicates one-third of parents surveyed don’t know who to contact when they have an inquiry or issue, highlighting a need for exceptional customer service in schools.

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released updated Teacher Attrition and Hiring Reports, and two new teacher hiring and retention resources are available now to local education agencies (LEAs).

tagged: Hiring, HR, Recruiting, Retention

Education entities faced with changing demographics and talent scarcity can benefit from engaging in succession planning.

tagged: "Professional development", Retention

A new webinar from TASB HR Services and the Educator Data, Research, and Strategy division at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Using Metrics to Impact Recruitment, is available now on demand.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of May.

tagged: HR

This Q&A provides answers to some of the most common questions HR Services has received regarding managing employee behaviors.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", "Employment law"

HR Services is partnering with TASB Risk Management Fund to present a webinar focusing on HR issues for school-based law enforcement (SBLE).

tagged: Compensation, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Overtime

Data from the 2022-2023 TASB HR Surveys is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Leave, Surveys

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will dispose of E-Verify records that are more than 10 years old on June 24, 2023.

tagged: HR, "Personnel records", "Records retention"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of April.

tagged: HR

HR Services is pleased to announce the availability of the fifth in our series of guides for school administrators, The Administrator’s Guide to Designing and Managing Pay Systems.

tagged: Compensation, HR, "HR training"

To assess educator preparation program (EPP) effectiveness and provide appropriate support, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is collecting data via the annual principal and first-year teacher surveys.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, Surveys, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

AASA, The School Superintendents Association, released the results of its 2022-2023 Superintendent Salary and Benefits Study.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

Managing Chapter 21 contracts can result in many challenges for school district employees.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", Nonrenewal, Termination

School district staff working to prepare for contract renewals can use the details in this article to ensure best practices are in place and legal requirements are met.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts"

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) published its 2022 Health Benefits Report to give the public an in-depth look at the TRS health plans’ performance, financials, and plan structures.

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance"

A recent Rand Corporation report finds educator turnover increased markedly over pre-pandemic levels, but steps are being taken to address teacher shortages.

tagged: Retention, Staffing, "Teacher resignations"

New Title IX resource guides are available to help evaluate whether K-12 schools and colleges are providing equal athletic opportunities consistent with the regulations and explains how to file a complaint if a program is not.  

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance", Hiring, "HR training"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has posted Year 4 Reading Academies updates in the summary of changes released in the commissioner’s superintendent call on February 16.  

tagged: "Professional development", TEA, "Teacher training", "Texas Education Agency"

Districts exploring options for flexible work arrangements can look to their peers to see what is being offered.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, Retention

The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF), established in March 2022 to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges, has released a summary detailing recommendations focused on support for teachers.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its 2022 Annual Report — a blend of priorities, statistics, and achievements related to the year in education.

tagged: HR, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Although national research indicates teachers of color leave the classroom at higher rates than their peers, data shows that in Texas a significantly higher portion of Black and Latino teachers stay in education.

tagged: Diversity, Retention

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of March.

tagged: HR

Data from the 2022 TASB Extra-Duty Stipend Survey is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

On January 31, TASB HR Services opened participation in the HR Surveys for 2022-2023.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Surveys, "Teacher contracts"

A new webinar from TASB HR Services and TASB Legal Services, Managing Educator Contracts, is available now on demand.

tagged: "Educator contracts", HR, "Teacher contracts"

An employee who fails to return the medical certification for a family and medical leave (FML) qualifying event in a timely manner may miss out on the rights and protections afforded by federal law.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

Openly discussing individual salaries is slowly becoming less taboo as younger generations enter the workforce, but it does not mean an employer has to go “all in” to embrace pay transparency in pay administration.

tagged: Compensation, Hiring, "Pay increases", Salaries

As districts consider contract administration and staffing needs for the upcoming school year, they may look to probationary contract employees and employees hired for a partial year when considering a reduction of staff.

tagged: "Educator contracts", Hiring, Nonrenewal, "Teacher contracts"

Thirty years ago, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law entitling eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, HR

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting several sessions at the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Engage Conference in San Antonio, TX, on February 15 and 16.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development"

Educational entities that closed for the recent winter storm have asked questions on how to handle employee pay and leave benefits during this time.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave, "Wage and hour"

A recent Gallup survey shows employee engagement and satisfaction has declined for the second consecutive year, reaching its lowest level since 2015.

tagged: HR, Retention

Educators may now deduct up to $300 in out-of-pocket classroom expenses when they file their federal income tax returns for 2022.

tagged: HR

A new HR Services webinar, Spending Requirements in Texas Education Code (TEC) § 48.051, is available now on demand.

tagged: Compensation, HR, "HR training"

Understanding why teachers leave can help leaders develop and implement strategies that can result in fewer resignations during as well as at the end of the school year.

tagged: Hiring, Retention, "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

District coordinators can rely on various HR Services resources for help understanding leave benefits and managing the leave process.

tagged: Benefits, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "HR training", Leave

Political subdivisions such as school districts, colleges and community colleges, cities, or counties are required to post a first responder liaison notice.

tagged: "Employee notices", "Workers’ compensation"

Newly updated survey data collected by the U.S. Department of Education reveals that while teachers work much longer hours than what is required, 17 percent still work second jobs outside of the teaching field.

tagged: Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Timesheet App is now available in Spanish for iOS and Android devices.

tagged: "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, HR

Results from the 2022-2023 District Personnel Survey are now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", Surveys

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2023 standard mileage rates effective January 1.

tagged: Compensation, HR

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of February.

tagged: HR

Two new laws were passed in December 2022 providing protection to all nursing mothers and requiring accommodations for pregnancy- and childbirth-related conditions.

tagged: Exempt, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

There will be no changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2023.

tagged: contracts, "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Teacher contracts"

TASB work-site posters have been updated to incorporate recent changes to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) employee rights notice and the Office of Injured Employees Counsel (OIEC) program notice.

tagged: "EEOC compliance", "Employee notices", "Employment law", "Worksite posting"

Our most popular articles from 2022 shine a light on topics most important to our readers over the last year.

tagged: HR

A recently released analysis found completion rates for teacher preparation programs are significantly higher for programs affiliated with institutions of higher education.

tagged: Certification, HR, "Teacher certification"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of January.

tagged: HR

The public education sector continues to struggle to fill multi-incumbent, high-turnover jobs like custodian, food service worker, bus driver, and instructional aide.

tagged: Compensation, Employment, Hiring, "Pay increases"

An analysis of student-to-counselor ratios for elementary through secondary schools shows Texas ranked 23rd in the nation.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting, Retention

Offering a payment to employees who provide notice of their intent to leave the district at the end of the school year benefits the district with respect to determining budget and staffing needs earlier than normal.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, Termination

Data from the 2022 TASB District Personnel Salary Survey is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

While school staffing shortages are common in today’s job climate, many Texas school districts are having difficulty filling bus driver vacancies due to challenges unique to the position.

tagged: Compensation, Hiring, Recruiting, Salaries

As the holidays approach, public employers frequently ask about the possibility of providing a one-time bonus to employees to thank and reward them for their service to the organization.  

tagged: Compensation, HR, "Pay increases", Salaries

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting several sessions at the TASPA Winter Conference in Round Rock, Texas, on December 6 and 7. 

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development"

The newest edition of The Administrator’s Guide to Managing Leaves and Absences is now available for purchase in the TASB Store.

tagged: "Employment law", HR, Leave

As the student population increases in racial diversity, districts must continue to seek ways to address the lack of diversity amongst teachers.  

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

The research is clear: when school districts use staff surveys to seek input and respond to feedback in a meaningful way, employees are more likely to stay in their roles.

tagged: "Employee surveys", Retention, Staffing, Surveys

TASB HR Services would like to extend a huge thank you to all the participants in this year’s HR Academy and Advanced HR Seminar.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of December.

tagged: HR

The United States military is one of the entities recognized for years of service in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §153.1021 for professional personnel.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", "Personnel records"

At the 2022 HR Academy and Advanced HR Seminar, TASB HR Services solicited new participants for HR Mentorship Connections, a program designed to connect novice HR staff with experienced HR professionals willing to serve as mentors.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development", Retention

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced adjustments to all seven federal tax brackets for tax year 2023.

tagged: Compensation, HR, Salaries

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced a deadline of Friday, December 9, 2022, for submitting a completed 2022–2023 Annual Fingerprinting Certification and Statement of Compliance.

tagged: "Criminal history", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

The 2022–2023 TASB Extra-Duty Stipend Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

Statewide data highlights from the 2022–2023 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey have been released.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) School Action Fund (SAF) grant will begin accepting applications on November 7, 2022.

tagged: TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Indeed recently announced it will transition from a pay-per-click model to a pay-per-started-application and pay-per-application model with the intent of getting employers closer to the hire.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting

In the post-pandemic world job seekers are making more demands from employers, and they are increasingly about work environment and flexibility to promote better work-life balance.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, Recruiting, Retention

TASB work-site posters are being updated to incorporate recent changes to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) employee rights notice and the Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) program notice.

tagged: "EEOC compliance", "Employee notices", "Employment law", "Worksite posting"

School entities should carefully consider whether opting out of TRS-ActiveCare is the right decision for their organization.

tagged: Benefits, HR, "TRS ActiveCare"

Current studies give insight into teacher shortages on local and district levels but fail to give a broader view of the problem.

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

Effective communication throughout the recruitment and hiring process can result in employing more top talent in this competitive, tight labor market.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

On October 13, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule addressing how to determine whether a worker is an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor.

tagged: "Department of Labor", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, "Independent contractor"

Data from the 2022–2023 TASB/TASA Superintendent Survey is now available on TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for November.

tagged: HR

Employers should continue to use the current version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, until further notice.

tagged: "Employment law", Hiring, HR

With fewer college graduates pursuing careers in education and individuals exiting the profession, one Texas district has taken a new approach to growing their own.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

A recent EdWeek article reported that the majority of campus principals surveyed are still struggling to fill vacancies.

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

According to a recent Pew Research study, the increase in teacher diversity has not kept pace with that of the student population over the last several decades.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

TASB HR Services is excited to offer a new training, Understanding Compensation in Community Colleges, to all Texas community colleges.

tagged: "Community college", Compensation, HR

School and district leadership should help ensure their employees are aware of the upcoming deadline to file a waiver related to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

tagged: HR

For each new school year, recruiting and retaining a strong teacher base remains a consistent focus. However, attracting diversity among these teachers can provide challenges.

tagged: Diversity, Recruiting, Retention

TASB HR Services is excited to offer new and experienced human resources professionals crucial, targeted training to ensure they have the tools needed to confidently do their jobs.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

As non-traditional routes to teaching increase, school districts must step up to provide appropriate support and resources to ensure educator success.

tagged: Certification, Retention, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) awarded $25 million in grant funds to teacher preparation programs through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program this school year.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

Reducing the student achievement gap between students from low-income and high-income families may be more difficult than redistributing effective teachers, according to a recent study.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, Recruiting, Retention

The 2022–2023 TASB Community College Salary Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys"

The Charles Butt Foundation released the results of their 2022 Texas Teacher Poll, which reports on teachers’ attitudes towards the profession and public education, insights into the challenges they face, their professional experiences, and retention strategies that would keep them in the profession.

tagged: HR, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

To impact student learning, teachers need quality support and professional learning.

tagged: "Professional development", "Teacher training"

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 12, 2022, as Texas Education Human Resources Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the important contributions made by school staff who work in human resources.

tagged: HR

Health care costs have significantly increased after remaining relatively flat in 2020, likely due to delayed nonemergency care during the pandemic.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Health insurance", "TRS ActiveCare"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of October.

tagged: HR

The Administrator’s Guide to Strategic Staffing is a useful tool for administrators responsible for planning strategic staffing decisions.

tagged: Hiring, HR, "HR training", Staffing

Rethinking staffing models during the current staffing shortage may help school entities eliminate vacancies, provide innovative instructional models, and actualize cost savings for future expenditures.

tagged: HR, Staffing

Good news from a recent survey, 63 percent of Americans stated they have “a great deal or good amount” of trust in their local public school teachers while 54 percent rated their local public schools with an “A” or “B”.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee performance", Recruiting, Retention

The 2022–2023 TASB District Personnel Salary Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

A recent survey from the EdWeek Research Center found teachers report a preference for inflation-adjusted salary increases over other financial perks.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Health insurance", Hiring

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now accepting applications for the National Board Candidacy Cohort Grant for 2023–2024, which would support districts pursuing Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) funds.

tagged: Certification, "Professional development", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Districts have recently inquired about the possibility of bringing in nonemployee volunteers to be the cheer or drill team sponsor.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, Employment, Hiring, Staffing

Teachers in K–12 classrooms have the highest burnout rate in the United States, according to a recent Gallup Panel Workforce Study.

tagged: HR

As teacher recruitment and retention continue to be concerns in Texas, a Colorado report finds that salary may not be the only issue.

tagged: Hiring, Retention, Salaries, "Teacher recruiting"

Stay interviews are an efficient way to increase employee retention, if implemented effectively.

tagged: "Employee surveys", Retention, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

This summer, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced STAAR-related changes that will impact local designation systems in districts participating in the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA).

tagged: Compensation, Retention, TEA, "Teacher recruiting", "Texas Education Agency"

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is welcoming public comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the examination of Form I-9 documents.

tagged: Hiring, HR

Districts must have clear policy statements and documented regulations to effectively administer leave programs.

tagged: Benefits, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

On average, teachers made 23.5 cents on the dollar less than what similar, college-educated counterparts earned in 2021.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Recruiting, Retention

District leaders must abide by the rules for duty-free lunch entitlements for teachers, including allowing them to leave campus.

tagged: "Employment law", HR

As the school year begins, administrators and teachers should begin engaging in the teacher appraisal process to ensure effective teaching is happening in the classroom from day one and beyond.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Teacher onboarding", "Teacher training", T-TESS

TASB HR Services has released an online, on-demand customer service course to guide district employees through the ins and outs of providing quality service in each and every interaction with customers.

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

After 47 years in education, Dr. Lolly Guerra, executive director of the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA), is set to retire on August 31, 2022.

tagged: HR

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division and Women’s Bureau announce a series of events to commemorate National Breastfeeding Month and new resources for parents and employers.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, HR, "Wage and hour"

Private-sector pay rose more than 5.5 percent over the last year as employers attempt to keep their staff amid rising inflation and a job seeker’s market.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Recruiting, Retention

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has signaled increased enforcement of child labor laws, as noted in a recent HR Dive Brief.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, "Wage and hour"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of September.

tagged: HR

Hiring challenges continue for school districts as fewer candidates are applying due to low pay, minimal benefits, stressful job responsibilities, and political controversies, according to a recent survey.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

The 2022–2023 Texas District Leaders Budget Cohort program kicks off on September 22, 2022, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

tagged: Compensation, "Educator contracts", "Professional development", Staffing

This year’s TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey is now accepting responses!

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

Due to the teacher shortage and dwindling applicant pools, districts are having to think outside of the box to implement more creative recruitment strategies to hire qualified teachers.

tagged: Benefits, Hiring, Recruiting, Salaries

Over eight million people are employed in elementary and secondary schools, making eudcation one of the largest employment sectors in the country—more than either the entire retail or construction industries.

tagged: Retention, Salaries, Staffing

The American School District Panel (ASDP) released survey results that indicate superintendents are satisfied with their jobs and aren’t expected to leave their current roles at any greater rate than in the past.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, Surveys

Recently released federal data on school crime and safety validate why some teachers and students are concerned about returning to school this year.

tagged: "Epidemic Response", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "HR training", "Teacher shortage"

Tools to help ensure personnel records are organized, purged regularly, and comply with the state minimum retention schedules are available in HR Services resources.

tagged: "Personnel records", "Records retention"

Travel and mileage reimbursement rates have been published, including a rare mid-year increase to the automobile mileage reimbursement rate for the second half of 2022.

tagged: HR

Let's take a look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of August.

tagged: HR

Texas teacher retirement benefits are worse than any other state in the country, except for Louisiana, according to a study conducted on public pension funds. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Retention, "Teacher Retirement System"

In June 2022, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued updated guidance for the reporting of compensated absences effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, but earlier application is encouraged.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Leave

Tuition reimbursement programs can add value to your total compensation package, but without being strategic to an employer’s specific needs and goals, they may not provide a meaningful return on investment (ROI).

tagged: Benefits, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced the availability of a continuing professional education (CPE) exemption for educators possessing an invalid certificate due to a lack of required CPE hours.

tagged: Certification, HR, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

As aspiring educators transition to campus administration, a strong induction program is key to helping them grow as leaders and thrive in their new roles. 

tagged: Hiring, HR, "Professional development", Retention

The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) recently hosted the 2022 National Educator Shortage Summit with the goal of examining and addressing systemic issues contributing to the national shortage of educators.

tagged: HR, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

TASB HR Services has updated the webinar Best Practices for Recruiting Quality Staff to include strategies to meet the challenges of recruiting during an educator shortage.

tagged: HR, "HR training", Recruiting

The Title IX proposed revisions were released for public comment by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on the 50^th anniversary of the law.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance", Hiring, "HR training"

Requirements for posting vacancies and specific content to be included are addressed in Texas Education Code (TEC), local policy, and Title IX rules.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

TASB HR Services staff will present several sessions at the TASPA Summer Conference in Round Rock, TX, on July 14 and 15.

tagged: HR

Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs) were the only type of educator preparation programs (EPPs) to see an increase in enrollment from 2010 to 2019, but completion rates dropped 10 percent during the same period.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher shortage"

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of July.

tagged: HR

Physical requirements and expectations listed on a job description should be realistic and represent typical job duties for the role.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, "Job descriptions"

To hire for diversity, it’s important for HR departments and hiring managers to first recruit for diversity.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

New publications from the Department of Labor (DOL) provide guidance on the applicability of family and medical leave (FML) for mental health conditions.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "Family and medical leave", FMLA

The commissioner of education recently announced updates regarding required reading academies.

tagged: "Professional development", "Teacher training"

Human resources administrators should be aware of Texas requirements and the resources available when an employee requests a change in name or gender marker.  

tagged: Diversity, Employment, "Personnel records"

Schools are experiencing all-time highs for teacher turnover and staffing shortages.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Employee surveys", Retention, "Teacher resignations"

TASB Policy Service recommends an annual review of key policies to ensure alignment with district practices and other district documents.

tagged: HR

TASB Policy Service recently published an update regarding staff development changes required by Senate Bill (SB) 1267 (87^th Regular Session).

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

Principals should provide relevant leadership opportunities and experiences to prepare assistant principals to be future successful campus leaders.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Professional development", Recruiting, Retention

School districts are experiencing staffing shortages for all positions, and many are searching for options to fill assistant principal vacancies.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, Recruiting

Recently, several districts have asked if an employee has the option to forgo the use of leave and be docked pay instead.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, Leave

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of June.

tagged: HR

The 2022 updates to the Model Employee Handbook (MEH) and the Community College MEH are now available to TASB HR Services members.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

An understanding of nepotism rules and local provisions is necessary to ensure relatives of board members and in some cases the superintendent, are excluded from employment.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law", Hiring

Texas districts report planning larger pay increases this year compared to last.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Pay increases"

Implementation of House Bill (HB) 2519 passed during the Regular Session of the 87^th Texas Legislature continues to cause confusion for school districts as they begin to calculate the penalty-free resignation date (PFRD) for this school year.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment law", "Teacher contracts", Termination

TRS-ActiveCare rates will remain the same or decrease for the 2022–2023 school year.

tagged: Benefits, "TRS ActiveCare"

Recent staffing changes at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provide an opportunity for HR Services to support educational entities with their service record needs.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", Leave, "Personnel records"

Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 21 provides the legal framework for educator contracts, and a district’s local policy manual outlines local choices that must be considered during the hiring process.

tagged: "Districts of innovation", DOI, "Educator contracts", Hiring

The results of a recent national teacher survey showing a typical teacher works a median of 54 hours a week may serve as a reference for determining teachers’ family and medical leave (FML) eligibility and number of hours of intermittent leave.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

Participation is open for the 2022–2023 pay increase quick poll from TASB HR Services.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Surveys

HR Services is receiving an increase in questions about contracts and teacher certification as the end of the school year quickly approaches.

tagged: Certification, Employment, "Employment contracts", Rehire

Employers who rebrand their employee assistant program (EAP) by incorporating it into their existing wellness program are seeing increased employee participation.

tagged: Benefits

Often ten-month employees begin work in August but don’t receive their first paycheck until mid- to late September.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Employment, Salaries

An increase in the use of online student services, such as tutoring, has raised the question of what type of criminal history checks should be required of those leading the sessions or interacting with students.

tagged: "Criminal history", Hiring

Recent superintendent surveys compiled by the RAND corporation spur concerns of a post-pandemic “superintendent exodus”.

tagged: Retention, Surveys

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of May.

tagged: HR

Teacher residency programs are providing significant benefits to school districts, teacher residents, and the students they serve as teacher vacancies are on the rise.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher training"

TASB HR Services has added a new resource to the HR Library, the Investigation Report Template.

tagged: "Employee discipline", HR

TASB HR Services will soon add another book to their library of publications available at the TASB Store.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

The penalty-free resignation date (PFRD) remains the same despite the adoption of House Bill (HB) 2519 passed during the Regular Session of the 87^th Texas Legislature.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment law", "Teacher contracts", Termination

Forty percent of administrators and one-third of teachers reported being threatened with violence by parents this school year according to a recently released national survey report from the American Psychological Association.

tagged: "HR training", Retention, Staffing, Surveys

The temporary US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy allowing employers to accept expired identity documents for the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) will end on May 1

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", Hiring, "Personnel records"

As we move into spring, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of April.

tagged: HR

Recently TASB HR Services has received questions from districts asking whether their employees can donate leave days to other employees when the district does not have an established sick leave pool or sick leave bank.

tagged: Benefits, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, HR, Leave

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released their 2021 Annual Report—a blend of statistics, achievements, and anecdotes related to the year in education.

tagged: HR, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Early to mid-spring is the time to complete teacher and principal appraisals as well as evaluations for all employees including auxiliary staff.

tagged: "Employee performance", "HR training", "Records retention", T-TESS

Data from the 2021–2022 TASB HR Surveys is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Leave, Surveys

School staff are experiencing high levels of job-related stress prompting districts to examine ways to do more to support the mental health and well-being of employees to prevent losing them.

tagged: Employment, Retention, Surveys

School district HR administrators can find themselves bogged down with the challenge of how to best create and manage their non-duty day program.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Leave

TASB HR Services is excited to offer Writing Effective Job Descriptions, a virtual event designed to aid administrators in writing functional, low-maintenance job descriptions.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Job descriptions", "Professional development"

Districts often ask which payment options can be used for nonexempt staff earnings.

tagged: Compensation, Nonexempt

Early spring is the best time to issue Letters of Reasonable Assurance (LRA) to noncontract employees who work less than 12 months or who may have an unpaid summer break.

tagged: Benefits, Employment, Unemployment

The teacher service record (FIN-115) or a similar form is the official document used to record years of service claimed for salary increment purposes and state leave data.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", HR

Calculating pay increases using the market median allows for districts to stay competitive with peer districts and align with compensation goals.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

An employee who returns to work for the same employer may meet eligibility criteria for family and medical leave (FML) and access leave in the first 12 months of reemployment.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

As we move into spring, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for March

tagged: HR

Improving the applicant experience may help reduce the number of candidates who start but fail to complete the application process.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting

At a time when school districts are already facing stressful staffing challenges, it is critical to be prepared to fill mid-year openings as efficiently as possible. 

tagged: "Employment contracts", Hiring, "Teacher contracts"

The pre-pandemic shortage of certified bilingual teachers has only gotten worse as we enter the third year of the Coronavirus pandemic.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted proposed rules to Chapter 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §249.17 regarding contract abandonment at its January meeting.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment law", "Teacher contracts", Termination

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting several sessions at the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Engage Conference in Grapevine, TX, on March 2 and 3.

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Professional development"

In Texas, at-will employees can be terminated at any time for any reason, as long as it’s not an illegal reason, if it is in the best interest of the employer.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", Termination, Unemployment

Teacher vacancies, the shortage of qualified teachers, and teacher illness are a few of the reasons great substitute teachers are in high demand in Texas schools.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

As districts are struggling to recruit and retain staff, a recent survey by the National Education Association (NEA) finds more than half of educators plan to leave teaching sooner than originally planned.

tagged: Hiring, Retention, Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

With contract season quickly approaching, it’s important to remember nonrenewal of a term contract must be based on one or more reasons specified in Policy DFBB (LOCAL).

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", Nonrenewal, "Teacher contracts"

Data from the 2021–2022 TASB Extra-Duty Stipend Survey is now available on TASB HRDatasource™.

tagged: Compensation, HR, "Salary surveys"

A recent study by the University of Houston shows first-year teacher retention is at an all-time low.

tagged: HR, Retention, Staffing

TASB HR Services is providing two resources to support administrators and supervisors in the crucial task of managing employee performance.

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

As districts move into the last semester, it’s a good time to review practices relating to the acceptance of a contract employee’s end-of-year resignation.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Teacher resignations", Termination

On January 20, TASB HR Services opened participation in the HR Surveys for 2021–2022.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Surveys, "Teacher contracts"

HR staff are working hard to address ongoing staffing challenges brought on by the pandemic and more-than-typical mid-year resignations.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "Job descriptions", "Pay increases"

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced Texas will implement a waiver for commercial driver license (CDL) applicants seeking to operate a school bus.

tagged: Hiring, HR, Recruiting

The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) is offering several webinars related to the preparation of tax forms for 2021.

tagged: HR, "Professional development"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now accepting applications for the Mentor Program Allotment (MPA) Cycle 3.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, "Professional development", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Questions often arise during the spring semester when districts issue contracts to returning and new employees.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Teacher contracts"

As we move into spring, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of February.

tagged: HR

Results from the 2021–2022 District Personnel Survey are now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys", Surveys

Not all education jobs are suited to remote work, but offering options for flexible work arrangements whenever possible is an important strategy to compete with other industries for talent.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "Job descriptions"

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) adopted amendments to rules regarding the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists program.

tagged: HR

TRS-ActiveCare will move to a regional pricing system beginning September 1, 2022, in response to Senate Bill (SB) 1444 which enables employers to compare TRS-ActiveCare’s statewide premiums to other plans’ regional premiums based on regional costs of care.

tagged: Benefits, "TRS ActiveCare"

There will be no changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2022.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Teacher contracts"

Special provisions exist to allow public sector employers flexibility around overtime for police officers, but most educational entities do not apply them in an effort to remain competitive in the market.

tagged: Compensation, "Exemption status"

Properly crediting military service for salary purposes requires an understanding of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the commissioner rules for creditable service.

tagged: "Creditable service", Leave, Salaries

Let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of January.

tagged: HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has posted information and an application for the 2022–2023 Strategic Compensation Fellowship and Grant opportunity.

tagged: Compensation, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Correctly determining exemption status can help a district avoid consequences such as recovery of back wages, penalties and fines, or even personal liability of a supervisor.

tagged: "Employment law", "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Overtime

Auxiliary departments in educational organizations are struggling to retain staff necessary to appropriately meet student needs.

tagged: Benefits, Employment, "Pay increases", Retention