Legislative Update: Teacher Retirement System Issues

The 87^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature made no change to funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA).

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

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has announced upcoming HR-related trainings for higher education and school districts.

tagged: "Retire rehire", "Teacher retirement", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

A new HR Services webinar provides an overview of the various bills passed during the 87^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature impacting human resources. 

tagged: Certification, "HR certification", "Teacher Retirement System", "TRS ActiveCare"

HR Services consultants will present a variety of sessions at the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrator (TASPA) Summer Conference July 15–16 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

tagged: "Americans with Disabilities Act", Certification, Compensation, Recruiting

Guidance on use of receipts for replacement document needed to verify Form I-9 was recently updated and published on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website.  

tagged: Employment, "Personnel records"

Members are wondering when the TASB School Law eSource School District Training Chart will be updated.

tagged: Certification, "Professional development", "Teacher training"

If you have never heard of the National Naval Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC), then you are probably not alone.

tagged: "Career and technology education", CTE

Accelerated instruction was addressed by the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature in House Bill (HB) 4545.

tagged: Hiring, Staffing, TEA, "Teacher Retirement System", "Texas Education Agency", TRS

Several bills related to general personnel issues were passed during the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has made updates to the Out-of-State Certified Educators and the School District Personnel Certification Information webpages.

tagged: Certification, HR, Staffing

Training and staff development requirements were impacted by bills passed in the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

tagged: Certification, development, Professional, Teacher, training

TASB HR Services has created a new tool, the Demographics Dashboard, which is now available to download from the HR Library (myTASB login required).

tagged: Diversity, HRIS, Human, Information, Resources, System

Several bills related to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) were passed during the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

tagged: Benefits, Health, insurance, Rehire, Retirement, System, Teacher, TRS

The topics of sexual assault, abuse and neglect, educator misconduct, and sexual harassment were addressed in several bills passed during the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

tagged: Employee, HR, performance, Termination

Several bills were passed in the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature that have implications for certification and licensing.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Teacher

New categories of paid leave for employees engaged in military service and peace officers are required as the result of 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.

tagged: Benefits, Leave

An unusually large number of superintendents are leaving education due to the high anxiety and stress endured amidst the challenges of navigating the yearlong pandemic. 

tagged: Employment, Retention

TASB HR Services has been providing staffing guidance to school districts since 2003 and is proud to announce a new Strategic Staffing section in the HR Library (myTASB login required).

tagged: HR, Staffing

Performance management is the systematic process by which an employer involves its employees, as individuals and members of a group, in improving organizational effectiveness.

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

The TRS Board of Directors met this month to approve proposed changes to TRS-ActiveCare rates for 2021–22 effective September 1, 2021.

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

Beginning this school year, local education agencies (LEAs) must use the updated Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) rubric to meet the commission’s recommended principal appraisal system requirements.

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

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

tagged: HR

During the thick of hiring season, school districts often have questions about posting job vacancies.

tagged: "Employee performance", Hiring, Retention, "Teacher onboarding"

School systems have multiple staffing options to meet the social emotional needs of students and support the work of school counselors.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

The 2021 updates to the Model Employee Handbook (MEH) and the Community College MEH are now available to TASB HR Services members.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

Districts must review and update procedures to ensure compliance with the June 5, 2021 update to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) public health guidance.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Upon the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 202, school districts will no longer be able to pass the responsibility of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) surcharge to a retiree through payroll deduction, by imposing a fee, or by any other means to recover the cost.

tagged: Hiring, "Teacher retirement", "Teacher Retirement System"

Results from the TASB HR Services 2020–2021 HR Surveys shed some light on the current state of health insurance premiums and leave benefits in Texas school districts.

tagged: Benefits, Leave, Surveys

Approximately 40 percent of new teachers leave the profession within five years, but teachers with mentors are more likely to stay, according to a recent study.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Teacher onboarding", "Teacher training"

The High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) is a method used to determine a special education teacher’s subject matter competency.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) relaxes the requirements to review Form I-9 documentation in the employee’s physical presence if normal operations are being performed remotely because of COVID-19.

tagged: Hiring, HR, "Personnel records"

Certain individuals employed by a Texas school district must hold licensing credentials from their state agency to perform services within their profession.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

All educational aides employed in Texas school districts must be certified according to requirements established by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, Nonexempt

Most Texas school districts responding to our quick poll intend to implement a pay increase for the 2021–2022 school year.

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

Districts will be relieved to learn that the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) has decided not to assess penalty fees beginning with September 2021 for filing late reports.

tagged: "Teacher retirement", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

Employers considering employing students over the summer months should review what job functions minors are permitted and prohibited from performing.

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

School districts struggle each year to fill teacher vacancies, and unfortunately, often employ substitutes when they cannot secure certified teachers.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

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

tagged: HR

As we approach the end of the 2020–2021 school year, it’s important to consider the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they impact staff retention and teacher burnout.

tagged: COVID-19, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and students will soon be darting out the school doors to begin their summer break with teachers and staff not far behind.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Employee surveys", Employment, HR

It's important to know what the penalty-free resignation date is and how to calculate it.

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

Districts have two types of waivers available to hire an individual who doesn’t meet permit or certification criteria: the teacher certification waiver and the bilingual exception and English as a Second Language (ESL) waiver.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

Many districts are considering pay increases for 2021–2022 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

A common family and medical leave (FML) question is whether a 10-month employee who has a baby late in the spring or over the summer can take family and medical leave (FML) at the beginning of the school year to bond with the baby.

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

On May 5, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the withdrawal of the new independent contractor rule.

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

To help districts address summer school teacher shortages, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has adopted a temporary emergency rule expanding the definition of a substitute from June 2021 through August 2021.

tagged: "Retire rehire", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS, "TRS surcharge"

Requiring employees to use leave in half-day increments is one of many things districts do just because it’s always been done that way.

tagged: Compensation, Leave

A nonrenewable permit (NRP) may be activated for an individual who has not completed appropriate educator assessment requirements specified in Title 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §230.21.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

Review this list of popular benefits to see how your organization’s offerings compare.

tagged: Benefits, Recruiting, Retention

New research encourages developing the role of assistant principals to advance education equity, promote school improvement, and foster principal effectiveness.

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

HR Services often gets calls about what recourse a district has for a teacher abandoning their contract.

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

Part four of the teacher certification series focuses on the temporary classroom assignment permit (TCAP) used at the secondary level for a certified teacher assigned to teach one to four classes outside of their certification.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

We’ve referenced board resolutions during the pandemic far more than usual, and all this talk about resolutions has led some district staff to think many actions now require a resolution.

tagged: HR

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

tagged: HR

An emergency permit may be used when a district cannot secure an appropriately certified and qualified individual to fill a vacant position or when an educator doesn’t have the appropriate credentials for the assignment.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

If your district leadership team is in a quandary as to how to move forward with this year’s budget planning process, you are not alone.  

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

Quality succession planning is crucial to an organization’s success, and Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) ISD is working hard to ensure the success of their district leaders through their leadership succession program.

tagged: Employment, HR, "Professional development", Staffing

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) contains certain provisions related to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA.

tagged: "Employee notices", "Employment law", "Epidemic Response", "Health insurance"

The second part of the teacher certification series focuses on two nontraditional ways to hire uncertified individuals for teaching positions—a district’s District of Innovation (DOI) plan and a school district teaching permit (SDTP).

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

The pandemic-fueled nationwide teacher shortage that many have feared has yet to materialize; however, there is cause for concern in specific schools and subjects.

tagged: HR, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

Budget preparation is in full swing, and districts may be struggling to find needed resources to support or improve student learning while sustaining a competitive compensation plan.

tagged: Employment, Staffing, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher retirement"

Data from the 2020–2021 TASB HR Surveys is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Leave, Surveys

To help school districts meet the challenges of complying with certification rules, we are releasing a seven-part series on certification that provides a deep dive into routes to certify teachers.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

Substitutes are vital to school districts, so managing them effectively can increase retention and build your district’s substitute pool. 

tagged: "Employee discipline", Employment, Hiring, HR, Unemployment

TASB Risk Management Fund staff provide perspective on why educational entities experience an increase in unemployment claims during the summer and the importance of a Letter of Reasonable Assurance (LRA).

tagged: Compensation, HR, Unemployment

The final article in our strategic staffing series focuses on educational aides and campus clerical staff.

tagged: HR, Staffing

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has launched a website dedicated to helping people understand unemployment insurance identity theft and how and where to report fraud.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, Unemployment

A new school leadership research review commissioned by the Wallace Foundation found school principals impact student learning more than previously believed, ranking second only to teachers.

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

As HR departments ramp up their spring hiring, it’s a good time to review reference-checking processes and remind hiring managers to follow established procedures.

tagged: Employment, Hiring

The fourth article of our strategic staffing series focuses on special education services which can be compared to state averages and recommended benchmarks.

tagged: Staffing

It’s always important to recognize the achievements of others, and it may be even more critical this year due to the challenges of the pandemic.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Social media practices"

The third part of our strategic staffing series focuses on auxiliary staff who support child nutrition, custodial, maintenance, and transportation services in a school district.

tagged: HR, Staffing

District leaders considering school calendar revisions should first consider the effect on teacher contracts and pay and review available resources.  

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher contracts"

Nearly 100 districts statewide may have a teacher on staff with a designation under the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) for 2020–2021 but are currently without an approved local designation system in place.

tagged: Compensation, TEA, "Teacher contracts", "Texas Education Agency"

The basic principles of counting time off against an employee’s 12 weeks of family and medical leave (FML) are impacted by holidays and emergency closures.

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

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

tagged: HR

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"

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

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

The second part of our strategic staffing series focuses on teacher positions, which can be compared to peer district data, the state average, and TASB recommended benchmarks.

tagged: HR, Staffing

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced eligible educators may include COVID-19 protective items in the educator expense deduction.

tagged: HR

To provide school districts with valuable information and meet the recent uptick in requests for staffing benchmarks, we are releasing a five-part series on strategic staffing.

tagged: HR, Staffing

Calculating an allowable wage garnishment amount can present a challenge, especially when an employee is subject to multiple orders.

tagged: Compensation, "Employment law", Salaries, "Wage and hour"

Due to the winter storms in Texas, the deadline to file various individual and business tax returns has been extended to June 15, 2021.

tagged: HR

Many community colleges in Texas skipped pay increases for 2020–2021, according to data from the TASB Community College Salary Survey, and the median faculty salary (across all degree levels) is $60,472.

tagged: "Community college", Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys"

Mother-Friendly Worksites are organizations that proactively support employees who choose to breastfeed their children.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee handbook", HR, Retention

As districts work through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) system development process, some are hearing misconceptions about TIA rules and processes.

tagged: Compensation, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Employees claiming exemption from income tax are required to complete a new Form W-4 every calendar year, and the February 15^th deadline is fast approaching.

tagged: Compensation, "Employee notices", "Employment law", Hiring

On February 4^th, TASB HR Services opened participation in the new HR Surveys using our online survey tool.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Surveys, "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 March. 

tagged: HR

Like all teachers new to the district, late hires are required to have a full Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) or locally developed appraisal during the first year of employment. 

tagged: "Employee performance", Hiring, "Teacher contracts", T-TESS

Hiring and retaining qualified career and technical education (CTE) teachers and knowing how much to pay them can be a challenge.

tagged: "Career and technology education", "Creditable service", CTE, "Teacher certification"

To ensure the selection of the most qualified administrator candidate, HR should provide for an effective interview process.

tagged: Diversity, Employment, Hiring, Retention

The Department of Education (ED) has suspended garnishment on federally held student loans through September 30, 2021, in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

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

School districts are required to run an annual query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse on all existing commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, including bus drivers.

tagged: Hiring, "Personnel records"

Employers should continue to be diligent in reviewing unemployment claims for fraudulent activity.

tagged: Unemployment

President Biden’s spending plan points to upcoming efforts to increase the nationwide minimum wage to $15 per hour.

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", DOL

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new COVID-19 testing requirements for international travelers returning to the United States effective January 26, 2021.

tagged: COVID-19, Leave

Pay structures are a critical tool for ensuring pay levels for jobs within an organization are externally competitive and internally fair, form the underlying framework of pay systems, and define the link between employee pay and job value.

tagged: Compensation, HR, Salaries

At the 2020 HR Academy, HR Services introduced HR Mentorship Connections, a new program designed to connect novice HR staff with experienced HR professionals willing to serve as a mentor.

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

As COVID-19 vaccines become available some educational entities are asking TASB HR Services how to respond to requests for employee medical information.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", COVID-19, "EEOC compliance"

A recent study finds teachers in high-poverty schools are unfairly penalized on classroom observations.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for February, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: HR

As a COVID-19 vaccine becomes more readily available, employers are exploring options for workplace requirements and practices.

tagged: COVID-19, "EEOC compliance"

Results from the 2020–2021 District Personnel Survey are now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys"

There will not be any changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2021.

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

Several conditions must be met for substitute teaching experience to qualify for creditable service.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", Hiring, Salaries

Recent guidance from the Department of Labor considers telemedicine an “in-person” visit for the purposes of establishing a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

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

Several of our members have reached out to get clarification about the recent coronavirus relief package signed into law on December 27.

tagged: COVID-19, "Department of Labor", DOL, Leave

Scientific data shows that focusing on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces has little impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response"

As teacher shortages continue to plague the country, a new investigation seeks to find if providing bonuses or loan forgiveness to teachers in positions that are hard to staff can help.  

tagged: Compensation, Recruiting, Retention

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for January, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: HR

Evaluating teachers has always been one of the more time consuming and challenging but important duties of principals. These challenges have been heightened by adding evaluations of teachers who provide virtual instruction due to the pandemic.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee performance", "Professional development", T-TESS

As 2020 draws to a close, we wanted to wish all our members and readers very happy holidays.

tagged: HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released updated guidance providing districts with detailed steps for addressing employees who test positive for COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, or have had close contact with an individual who tests positive.

tagged: COVID-19, Leave, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

A survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center shows educator morale is low and job applicants are declining.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting, Surveys

Leave benefits that employers are required to provide through the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) will expire December 31, 2020, and HR Services members are wondering what their next step should be to provide paid or unpaid leave options to employees affected by the pandemic.  

tagged: Benefits, COVID-19, "Employment law", Leave

In some school districts across the state, having to take time off work or from class to spend half a day or more attending a doctor’s appointment is becoming a less frequent inconvenience.

tagged: "Health insurance", Recruiting

Data from the 2020 TASB District Personnel Salary Survey is now available in TASB HRDataSource™.

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

Teacher candidates seeking certification in certain fields must successfully complete the new science of reading exam beginning January 1, 2021.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher certification"

Some employees may work a second job while on Family and Medical Leave (FML) in a district or organization, and what the law says about that may be unexpected.

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

Pay for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructors can often be a source of confusion, but clear processes and communication to staff can alleviate some common headaches districts face.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) passed an emergency rule related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

tagged: Certification, "Personnel records"

Resources to support employee and student mental health and wellness are available from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

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

HR Services staff hear stories about employees in public education all over the state, and some of those stories are pretty unbelievable.

tagged: HR

Nearly one in 10 teachers quit the profession after their first year and nearly one in three quit before their sixth school year.

tagged: "Professional development", Retention, "Teacher onboarding", "Teacher training"

School districts need to ensure correct reporting of Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) paid leave benefits.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, COVID-19, Leave

Many have experienced the upheaval of their daily lives due to COVID-19, but steps can be taken to limit the effect of the pandemic on employees.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

Workplace culture is dynamic; it can change over time and has the ability to surround and connect those who participate in it.

tagged: HR

TASB HR Services saw increased participation in salary surveys and looks ahead to other HR surveys.

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

There are many options and strategies available to districts seeking to reduce personnel costs.

tagged: "Employment contracts", Staffing

Now more than ever, educators and those who work in schools are looking to feel a sense of connection with their employers.

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

On November 16 the TASB Member Center is opening its doors to welcome more members, including district personnel, and refreshing the online experience for all.

tagged: HR

Recruiting a teacher is not just about accomplishing the hire, but about making an investment that can yield dividends or become a money pit when the teacher decides to part ways.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

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

tagged: HR

Educational entities often require a high school diploma or General Educational Diploma (GED) for all positions, but the practice is not advisable.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "Job descriptions"

The supply of newly certified teachers joining the profession dwindles.

tagged: Employment, "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

As schools are dealing with classroom quarantines, enhanced teacher shortages, and other unexpected effects of the pandemic, having a quality roster of trained substitutes is more important than ever.

tagged: COVID-19, Hiring, HR, "HR training"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will begin accepting applications for the Mentor Program Allotment (MPA) Cycle 2 on November 2, 2020.

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

Districts considering giving employees a one-time payment can use TASB resources to help ensure practices are compliant and practical.

tagged: "Pay increases", Salaries

Statewide highlights from the 2020–2021 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey have been released.

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

The 86th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature made significant changes to address early elementary literacy by adding an additional requirement for the prekindergarten through grade six (PK–6) certification examination.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher certification"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced a deadline of November 20, 2020, for submitting a completed 2020–2021 Annual Fingerprinting Certification and Statement of Compliance.

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

As the holiday season approaches, districts should remind staff about expectations for returning to work following certain travel, as many may plan to go elsewhere for recreation or to see friends and family.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee notices", "Epidemic Response", HR

October is difficult enough in a typical year, but with the addition of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will need to be even more diligent in identifying and managing teacher burnout.

tagged: COVID-19, HR

TASB HR Services has made available two compensation plan templates in the HR Library—one for ISDs and ESCs, and one for community colleges.

tagged: Compensation, HR

Educational entities are aspiring to develop and cultivate leaders who are driven to lead with inclusion, diversity, and equity.

tagged: Diversity, HR, "Professional development"

A four-year study conducted by Mathematica Policy Research on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education shows that teacher performance pay does boost student scores.

tagged: Compensation, "Employee performance"

We’re excited to announce a new reporting system for HR Services salary and HR survey data—TASB HRDataSource™.

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

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for November, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: HR

As depression, anxiety, and suicide rates rise, more employers are taking active steps to break the stigma of mental health in the workplace and provide resources to help employees.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", "Health insurance", HR

The Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) only provides leave benefits up until December 31, 2020, so it’s important to inform employees of limitations and manage expectations.

tagged: COVID-19, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

As the 2020–2021 school year gets underway, districts are still struggling to find certified teachers to fill vacancies.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

A new report by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) predicts the teacher staffing shortage will worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring school leaders to get creative and consider new staffing models.

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

Unconscious biases affect us all, but in the workplace they can influence salaries, promotions, and even retention.

tagged: Diversity, Retention

As schools re-open this fall, many school entities are providing altered instructional arrangements for students due to ongoing safety concerns of COVID-19.

tagged: DOI, "Epidemic Response", Staffing, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Last week, Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced competitive grant opportunities for local education agencies (LEAs) including one opportunity directly related to National Board Certification, which would support districts pursuing Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) funds.

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

The TASB HR Services Salary Surveys are underway!

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

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

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

Districts struggling to cover classes because of a lack of substitutes or because of uneven class sizes need to ensure they don’t interfere with a teacher’s protected planning period.

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher contracts"

TASB HR Services will present three sessions at this year's virtual TASA | TASB Convention.

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

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued revised regulations under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in response to a federal court’s decision that found portions of the regulations invalid.

tagged: Benefits, "Department of Labor", HR, Leave

Employers are seeing an increase in employee requests for Family and Medical Leave (FML) following a denial of a request to work remotely because of an employee or family member’s high-risk health factor.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", Benefits, "Employment law", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 14, 2020, 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

HR Services receives many questions regarding what an employer is allowed to ask of an employee who is out or planning to be out on family and medical leave (FML).

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

On September 22, 2020, 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", DOL, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

The beginning of this school year has resulted in more staff than usual starting the year on long-term leave, and districts have asked TASB HR Services if they are required to advance leave to these employees.

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

Fear of COVID-19, concerns about underlying health conditions, and the inability to work remotely have resulted in an increase of resignations for the start of this school year.

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

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the opening of the 2021–2023 Grow Your Own Grant Program and the 2021–2022 Principal Residency Grant.

tagged: HR, Recruiting, TEA, "Teacher recruiting", "Texas Education Agency"

At the start of each school year employers often ask if state and federal posters need to be updated.

tagged: "Employee notices", "Worksite posting"

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for October, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: HR

HR Services is adding an efficiency audit to its array of consulting services for Texas school districts.

tagged: HR

A sizeable increase in the state minimum salary schedule was triggered by the basic allotment increase in funding by House Bill (HB) 3 of the 86^th Legislature.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", Hiring, Salaries

TASB HR Services recently presented a webinar covering complex scenarios related to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave issues.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, Leave

This year’s TASB District Personnel Salary Survey is now accepting responses!

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

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently announced the first districts approved for a Local Designation System as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), and nearly half of the approved districts (12 of 26) are charter schools.

tagged: Compensation, TEA

Review of an applicant’s criminal history is a complex task and if not implemented accurately and consistently can be problematic.

tagged: "Criminal history", "Employment law", Hiring, "Texas Education Agency"

While the career ladder system ceased to exist in 1993, some public school employees are still entitled to additional pay if certain conditions are met.

tagged: Compensation, "Creditable service", Hiring, Salaries

TASB HR Services created two new sample letters to parents or guardians regarding COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure.

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

Employees typically have a plethora of leave options available, but multiple exposures and incidents of COVID-19 illnesses are causing employees to exhaust leave entitlements.

tagged: Benefits, "Employment law", Leave, "Temporary disability leave"

Requests for leave, specifically for childcare purposes, are on the rise as schools begin the year with varying instructional arrangements that may or may not qualify as a school closure.

tagged: "Epidemic Response", FMLA, Leave

Determining eligibility for family medical leave (FML) is challenging for employers who paid employees to be idle during spring closures.

tagged: Benefits, "Employment law", FMLA, Leave

In remote work arrangements, the employer’s obligation to track hours worked but not scheduled can present more questions than answers.

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

TASB HR Services will provide two leave-related workshops updated to include Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) scenarios.

tagged: HR, "HR training", Leave

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for September, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: Compensation, HR, "Salary surveys", Staffing

We’ve extended the due date for the TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey!

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

Governor Abbott has issued a waiver allowing certain educator certification candidates to qualify for a one-year probationary certificate without meeting some requirements so they may be certified for the 2020–2021 school year.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

Now is the time for school leaders to review current educator appraisal procedures and policies, make needed adjustments, and publish a plan that provides a supportive and meaningful appraisal process for this year.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Epidemic Response", TEA, T-TESS

The TASB Risk Management Fund (Fund) explores ways school districts can work with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as unemployment claims surge.

tagged: Unemployment

New Title IX regulations, effective August 14, 2020, focus on a school’s response to allegations of sexual harassment and added specific due process procedures.

tagged: "EEOC compliance", "Employee handbook", "Employment law", HR

Establishing a return to work screening process after exposure to or diagnosis of COVID-19 will help ensure individuals adhere to required exclusion periods.

tagged: COVID-19, Leave

HR Services’ division director Amy Campbell discusses issues related to returning to schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

tagged: ADA, COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", Leave

The Department of Labor (DOL) published new model FMLA forms on July 16, 2020.

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

TASB HR Services recently presented a webinar answering many frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 workplace challenges.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, Leave

Most districts have procedures in place for determining new teacher salaries that are based on creditable years of service in education, but salary placement for new Career and Technical Education (CTE) educators, who typically have work experience directly related to their job outside of education, is another story.

tagged: "Career and technology education", Compensation, "Creditable service", CTE

In response to the public health situation, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) continues to update the Public Health Planning Guidance.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, TEA

As shelter-in-place orders expire, educational institutions are confronted with the complicated task of preparing facilities for a safe return of employees and students.

tagged: ADA, COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", Leave

School districts are reporting new hires are having difficulty finding fingerprinting service providers that are open for business, and individuals are having to wait more than 10 days for an available appointment at open locations.

tagged: "Criminal history", "Employment law", "Epidemic Response", HR

Educational entities seeking to battle systemic racism and improve equity within their own schools can do so by hiring educators and other staff who embrace diversity and strive for inclusive efforts to reach all students.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

Education entities are working double time to put together a plan of action that accounts for as many scenarios as possible without compromising an engaging and safe learning environment.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Professional development", "Texas Education Agency"

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

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

Worksite accommodation requests are on the rise as staff get ready to return to the workplace, resulting in the need for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) interactive process.

tagged: ADA, "Employment law", "Epidemic Response", HR

School districts have a higher proportion of female employees than many other industries, which means districts have many staff each year who get pregnant and take leave for childbirth, recovery from childbirth, and baby bonding.

tagged: COVID-19, FMLA, HR, Leave

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires districts to screen teachers, staff, and visitors before coming onto campus each day to prevent COVID-19 from entering schools.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee surveys", "Epidemic Response"

As we look at the typical HR department's to-do list for August, remember to revise processes and procedures to reflect use of remote work and virtual learning.

tagged: HR

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are a valuable yet underutilized benefit offered by most employers.

tagged: Benefits, HR

As the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rolls out instructional model options for next year, districts need to be prepared to make decisions about teacher assignments.

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

During this COVID-19 era, staff must be prepared to be flexible in their job assignments and duties.

tagged: COVID-19, HR, "Professional development", Staffing

Remote work arrangements provide additional options for the education industry as they manage COVID-19 exposures and illnesses.

tagged: ADA, Recruiting, Retention

Invitations for the TASB Salary Surveys will be sent beginning in mid-July.

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

Human resource professionals are adapting quickly to COVID-19-related issues, but it can be tough to keep track of all the useful information needed to keep processes running smoothly.

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

We continue to see daily reports of COVID-19 diagnoses in and around school districts, and district HR staff likely have had to deal with these issues directly as more employees have returned to campuses and central office buildings.

tagged: COVID-19, "Family and medical leave", HR, Leave

Providing effective onboarding experiences will help engage new hires, acclimate them more quickly to the district, and, in the long run, increase retention.

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

Summer is when many district staff take vacations, and, despite COVID-19-related closures, many employees are still planning to leave home for a trip during the summer months.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee notices", "Epidemic Response", Leave

Quick action and use of contact tracing teams may be the key to reducing the spread of COVID-19.

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

Reports of school district employee resignations and terminations as a result of offensive race-related social media posts have increased.

tagged: HR, "Social media practices", Termination

All local government employees—anyone who has access to a local government computer system or database and elected officials—were required to complete a cybersecurity training program by June 14, 2020.

tagged: "HR training", "Professional development"

As employers receive more and more requests for Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave, they will want to ensure requests are legitimate.

tagged: Benefits, COVID-19, "Family and medical leave", Leave

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

tagged: HR

As schools grapple with decisions about instructional and work arrangements for 2020–2021, job description modifications and other methods for communicating remote work expectations to employees are being considered.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee performance", Employment, "Job descriptions"

Conflicting guidance internationally, as well as within the United States, is making the task of determining best practices for reopen a near-impossible undertaking.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response"

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) technical assistance questions and answers, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” were updated on June 11, 2020.

tagged: ADA, COVID-19, "EEOC compliance", "Employment law"

Governor Abbott has suspended certain provisions of law and rules allowing new and continued certification for identified certification candidates as indicated in the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Educator Certification Updates dated June 8, 2020.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, Recruiting

TASB HR Services has fielded several calls from districts sorting through the numerous Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posters for the workplace.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Worksite posting"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) introduced a new website dedicated to Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) updates and information.

tagged: Compensation, TEA

EdWeek Research Center’s new study sheds light on educator concerns on returning to the classroom and what factors may determine if they want to return at all.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Teacher resignations"

In a recent opinion piece, Education Week offers considerations for school leaders making a statement about George Floyd.

tagged: HR

Administering the technical details of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) can be challenging and may be problematic if not properly managed.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Fair Labor Standards Act", "Family and medical leave"

The face-to-face job interview process that once seemed immune to change has been thrust into the 21^st century amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

As workplaces begin to reopen, we’ve received more questions from members about administering leave, continuation of remote work, workplace safety, and what to do when an employee is diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19.

tagged: ADA, COVID-19, Employment, Leave

Years of research indicate teachers who receive instructional coaching improve their quality of instruction and make gains in student achievement.

tagged: "Employee performance", Hiring, "Job descriptions", "Professional development"

During these uncertain times, HR can be proactive and take steps to support staff returning to work after workplace and school closures.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee performance", "Epidemic Response", HR

The TASB 2020 Model Employee Handbook and the Community College model, updated with the most recent guidance and legal requirements, are now available in myTASB.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently provided guidance on the pre-employment affidavit of an applicant offered employment.

tagged: COVID-19, "Criminal history", Employment, "Epidemic Response"

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

tagged: HR

A well-written employee handbook can serve as a “best practices” guide for employers by communicating key standards and expectations for employees and explaining personnel policies and practices so they can be applied consistently and fairly.

tagged: DOL, "Employee handbook", "Employment law", HR

While schools are currently closed related to safety measures surrounding COVID-19, there are still some business processes, such as hiring, that must continue. 

tagged: Employment, "Employment law", Hiring

Failure to return a contract or a letter of reasonable assurance by its due date typically signifies an employee’s voluntary resignation.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Personnel records", Termination

A temporary US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy provides employers with guidance on using expired identity documents for the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).

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

With schools and a number of businesses closed to the public, many employees are relying on video chat platforms to remain connected.

tagged: HR

While early retirement incentives are prohibited, districts may consider offering an incentive for early notice of resignation.

tagged: Compensation, Staffing, "Teacher resignations"

In December 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued final rules updating regulations governing the regular rate requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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

When a coach or other extracurricular sponsor cannot fulfill their duties, districts sometime wonder what to do about stipends.

tagged: Compensation, "Educator contracts", "Teacher stipends", Termination

COVID-19 school closures create a unique environment for navigating contract terminations and nonrenewals.

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

Texas school districts may see an increase in unemployment claims from substitute employees as a result of closings in response to COVID-19.

tagged: Benefits, Unemployment

At its April 17 meeting, the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees decided on new health plans for TRS-ActiveCare and set the rates for 2020–2021.

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

In the early part of the winter, Teacher Retirement System (TRS) held regional meetings to discuss important basics of the TRS-ActiveCare program costs.

tagged: Benefits, "TRS ActiveCare"

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will begin accepting applications for the Mentor Program Allotment (MPA) on April 20, 2020.

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

Nonexempt employees must be compensated for all hours worked and may not work off the clock. In limited circumstances, nonexempt employees may volunteer to work outside of their usual duty schedule.

tagged: Compensation

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

tagged: contracts, HR

TASB Risk Management has provided a helpful Q&A regarding COVID-19 and unemployment compensation claims.

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

Tools for responding to an employee diagnosis or exposure to COVID-19 are available in the HR Library.

tagged: ADA, COVID-19, "Employee notices", "Epidemic Response"

We’ve received a variety of new HR-related inquiries since we posted the first round of COVID-19 frequently asked questions.

tagged: Benefits, COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, Leave

HR Services’ Amy Campbell speaks on managing personnel during the COVID-19 crisis in TASB Talks Episode 34. She teams up with Joy Baskin, director of TASB Legal Services, to help districts respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

tagged: Compensation, HR, Leave

Guidance related to educator preparation programs (EPPs) and field-based experience requirements, which have been impacted by school closings in response to COVID-19, have been posted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website.

tagged: Certification, "HR certification", "Teacher certification"

An employee request form for emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave can now be found in the HR Library.

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

Managing a remote workforce is a new experience for most education entities. The following are some of the questions districts have asked as workers transition from being onsite to working from home.

tagged: FLSA, HR, Nonexempt, "Personnel records"

While the Commissioner’s general waiver authority may allow school districts and charter schools to file a waiver for exemption from some aspects of educator appraisals, careful consideration should be given to this action. Pros and cons of filing a waiver should be analyzed to avoid unintended consequences.

tagged: DOI, "Employee performance", T-TESS

COVID-19 had understandably caused stress and anxiety throughout our population, but there are ways to take care of one’s mental health in the face of uncertainty.

tagged: HR

Modifications to the teacher job description provides documentation of new expectations, responsibilities, and working conditions.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", HR, "Job descriptions", Leave

TASB Legal Services provides guidance to school boards requesting that emergency powers be delegated from the school board to the superintendent.

tagged: HR

As more cities and counties in the state of Texas are requiring residents to shelter in place due to COVID-19, school entities may need to provide written documentation for employees who are categorized as essential personnel.

tagged: HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently released guidance on Educator and Staff Issues during these times of uncertainty created by COVID-19.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, TEA, T-TESS

The required worksite posters explaining employee rights under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) are available from the Department of Labor (DOL).

tagged: DOL, FMLA, Leave, "Worksite posting"

TASB Legal provides a Q&A covering employment questions related to instructional continuity during school closures.

tagged: HR

Employers taking employees’ temperatures to screen for COVID-19 will not violate Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rules.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", "EEOC compliance", HR

New laws extending Family and Medical Leave and providing for emergency paid sick leave for absences related to the COVID-19 pandemic become effective April 1, 2020.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", Leave

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase across the United States and abroad, districts may want to use a recent travel reporting form to track travel of employees and students.

tagged: "Employee notices", "Employee surveys", HR

As district operations continue to be impacted by COVID-19, TASB Legal, Policy, and HR Services continue to receive questions about how to handle various issues related to compensation, leave, meetings, and more.

tagged: Compensation, contracts, HR, Leave

Current events may have people feeling completely out of routine, but the annual schedule of HR operations continues. As March wraps up, let's look ahead to our HR to-do list for April.

tagged: HR

TASB Legal answers questions regarding the legal principles relating to employee absences during an epidemic or school closing.

tagged: HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is accepting applications for the Additional Days School Year (ADSY) Planning and Execution Program.

tagged: TEA

Districts are in varying levels of readiness for developing local teacher designation systems to access funding from the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) in House Bill 3.

tagged: Compensation, "Educator contracts", TEA

Employers must begin using the 1099-NEC to report independent contractors’ 2020 pay.

tagged: "Human Resources Information System", "Independent contractor", "Internal Revenue Service"

As concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus continue to grow, it is important for districts to review their infectious disease response plans and monitor available resources.

tagged: HR

In an effort to assess educator preparation program (EPP) effectiveness, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is gathering data via principal and first-year teacher surveys.

tagged: "Employee performance", HR, Surveys, TEA

Expansive research by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) provides evidence that a teacher’s attainment of a master’s degree has little to no impact on student achievement.  

tagged: Compensation, "Employee performance", Salaries, "Teacher stipends"

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) trustees have selected medical plan administrators for TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care.

tagged: Benefits, "Teacher Retirement System", "TRS ActiveCare", "TRS Care"

HR Services’ Jennifer Barton speaks on the importance of supporting teachers including a fully developed orientation, professional development, and compensation.

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

Stipends are a great way to compensate employees for taking on additional duties or for possessing high-need credentials, but the administration of stipends can become burdensome.

tagged: Compensation, FLSA, Nonexempt, "Teacher stipends"

The Additional Days School Year (ADSY) created by House Bill 3 incentivizes school districts to add up to 30 instructional days to any elementary school schedule.  

tagged: Compensation, "Educator contracts", "Teacher stipends", "Texas Education Agency"

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

tagged: "Educator contracts", HR, Staffing

House Bill 3 (HB 3) included a mandate that master teacher certificates will no longer be issued or renewed by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) as of September 1, 2019.

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

The newest edition of The Administrator’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act is now available for purchase in the TASB Store.

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

Involuntarily placing an employee on temporary disability leave (TDL) when their medical condition interferes with the performance of their regular duties can be a difficult but necessary decision.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employment law", Leave, "Temporary disability leave"

According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website, eighty-five percent of districts (875) have been designated as Innovation Districts or have plans to implement a plan in the near future.

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

Benchmarking allows an organization to identify and implement “best practices” and develop improvement plans.

tagged: HR, "Pay increases", Staffing

The U.S. Department of Education has approved the 2020–2021 teacher shortage areas submitted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

tagged: TEA, "Teacher shortage", "Texas Education Agency"

On January 12th the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released revised regulations and guidance regarding the determination of joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

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

A well-written and up-to-date job description could be the key to successfully avoiding or fending off an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) discrimination case against your district.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", "EEOC compliance", Hiring, "Job descriptions"

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, effective immediately.

tagged: Hiring, HR, "Personnel records"

The interactive process is used to determine whether an effective and reasonable accommodation is available for an employee under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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

In the wake of House Bill 3 (HB 3), the median teacher pay increase was 7.0 percent among participants in the 2019–2020 TASB District Personnel Salary Survey.

tagged: "Pay increases", Salaries, "Salary surveys"

According to the 2019–2020 health insurance premiums survey conducted by TASB HR Services, Texas school district health insurance offerings have not changed much from previous years.

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

SBEC is taking public comment until February 3, 2020 on some certification rules that may impact the work HR leaders do in school districts.

tagged: Certification, HR, TEA

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: ACA, Benefits, HR, Staffing

A drop in teacher preparation program enrollment nationwide may result in a teacher shortage, but a lack of detailed enrollment data leaves question marks about how to fix the problem.

tagged: HR, "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

As principal retention rates decline, district need to find ways to prepare new campus leaders and improve local retention rates.

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

TASB HR Services and ED311 present Effective Documentation of Teachers, a one-day workshop for HR administrators, principals, assistant principals, and teacher appraisers.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", "HR training", Termination

Initial users of the Do Not Hire Registry have posed some interesting questions, including “Who should districts expect to see on the list?” and “Is it necessary to check all current employees?”

tagged: Certification, "Criminal history", Employment, Hiring

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional but stopped short of declaring the ACA unconstitutional in its entirety.

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

There will not be any changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2020.

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

Results from the 2019–2020 District Personnel Salary Survey are available in DataCentral.  

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

HR administrators need to ensure pay compression doesn’t lead to employee pay inequity, low morale, and high turnover.

tagged: Compensation, Hiring, HR, Retention

Districts interested in applying for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) must submit a letter of intent to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by Friday, January 24, 2020.

tagged: Compensation, "Employee performance", TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has redesigned Form W-4 to increase simplicity, privacy, and accuracy.

tagged: "Employment law", HR

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a deadline extension of Forms 1095 from January 31 to March 2.

tagged: ACA, "Affordable Care Act", HR

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

tagged: HR, "HR training", "Personnel records", Staffing

Educational Testing Service (ETS) is seeking school district administrators to participate in the online scoring of the ETS® Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL).

tagged: HR

TASB HR Services attended the TASPA Winter Conference on December 11-13 and presented on a variety of topics including certification, compensation, appraisals, and more.

tagged: media, practices, Social

Educational aides seeking teacher certification now have the opportunity to complete their clinical teaching without the financial hardship of an unpaid student teaching assignment.

tagged: Certification, HR, Retention, "Teacher certification"

It’s no secret that teacher stress is at epidemic proportions, and it’s affecting students in the classroom more than ever.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Teacher shortage"

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting at the TASPA Winter Conference in Austin on December 12 and 13. 

tagged: HR, "HR training"

TASB HR Services has partnered with Kreuz Consulting to add Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Strategic Planning Workshops to the HR Services list of local and regional training offerings.

tagged: Compensation, HR, "HR training"

Research suggests that the most important factor in teacher success is the school environment.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Teacher shortage"

Employers responding to an absence request for religious observance need to consistently apply access to leave benefits.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance", "Employment law"

Concerns that teachers will be taken advantage of surfaced as changes to safeguards related to investment products offered to school district and open enrollment charter school employees go into effect.

tagged: Benefits, "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

An employee’s access to state personal leave is determined by the reason for leave and local policy provisions.

tagged: HR, "HR training", Leave

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is making changes to the process for collecting teacher and special education paraprofessional data.

tagged: Certification, "Employee surveys", TEA

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

tagged: HR

HR Services members challenged with calculating the regular rate for overtime when a nonexempt employee performs two or more jobs at different pay rate can find help in the HR Library.

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

Results from the 2019­–2020 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey are available now in DataCentral.  

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

The list of certified cybersecurity training programs required by House Bill 3834 of the 86^th Texas Legislature is available on the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) webpage.

tagged: Employment, "Professional development"

Teachers from Freer ISD and Premont ISD came together for the first of what may be many collaborative planning sessions.

tagged: HR

Although it seems improbable, employers may from time to time encounter an employee who declines a pay raise or promotion.

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

Metrics can help decision-makers identify trends and manage the workforce more effectively. Using workforce metrics can support a district’s competitiveness and help the district avoid missed opportunities for improvement.

tagged: HR

According to a survey from FlexJobs, nearly a third of workers have sought new employment because their employer didn’t offer flexible work opportunities, as reported by SHRM.  

tagged: Employment, HR, Retention

No one enjoys disciplining employees, but every human resources professional and supervisor must be prepared to address performance issues.

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

Districts tempted to hire a retiree through a third-party entity or as an independent contractor to avoid surcharges and annuity payment reductions should proceed with caution.

tagged: Hiring, HR, Rehire, "Retire rehire"

Employers may choose to establish leave donation programs to assist employees who exhaust their paid leave because of an extended, catastrophic illness or injury.

tagged: HR, Leave

I’m not sure where the term Darktober first got its start, but it’s an epidemic felt in education, particularly by new teachers.

tagged: Benefits, Employment, HR

Complying with the Fair Labor Standards Act is a complicated endeavor. Understanding when to pay a nonexempt employee for travel time is a common compliance issue that school districts wrestle with.

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

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

tagged: HR

The commissioner issued three decisions providing guidance on personnel matters. These decisions address suspension of a teacher without pay, termination of a probationary contract, and an employee’s failure to timely grieve issuance of a probationary contract.

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

This is part 1 of 4 HRX posts related to the new federal overtime rule. On September 24, the Department of Labor (DOL) released final regulations updating the salary threshold for exempt status. The changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) take effect January 1, 2020. 

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

This is part 2 of 4 HRX posts related to the new federal overtime rule. In this post, we’ll explore how to calculate weekly salaries for compliance checks.

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", DOL, "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

This is part 3 of 4 HRX posts related to the new federal overtime rule. The most important factor to making a smooth transition is to communicate changes in a clear and effective way. Plan ahead and start talking to employees and supervisors about the proposed changes as soon as possible.

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", DOL, "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

This is part 4 of 4 HRX posts related to the new federal overtime rule. This post will help you decide when to implement changes. 

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", DOL, "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

On September 24, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule that will make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay.

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", "Exemption status", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

While you may be familiar with how Family and Medical Leave (FML) generally works, many are surprised to find out that it’s not as straight-forward for spouses working at the same employer.

tagged: FMLA, HR, Leave

September 2019 marks the 35^th anniversary of TASB HR Services. We’re so proud of how far we’ve come since 1984, and we’re so excited for where we’re going. 

tagged: HR

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

tagged: HR, "Salary surveys", Surveys

The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) is now accepting applications to certify cybersecurity training programs.

tagged: Employment, "Professional development"

The Department of Labor (DOL) this morning announced final updates to the Fair Labor Standards Act, slated to take effect January 1, 2020.

tagged: FLSA, HR, Overtime

Each fall, our districts and colleges receive salary surveys from HR Services and work to collect data on the variety of benchmarks we survey—including the District Personnel and Community College Surveys launching this month.

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

In late August, all current users for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) secure site for ISDs received notice from DPS that effective September 1 DPS would no longer accept new requests from school contracting agencies for access to the DPS secure website because school contracting agencies would no longer have legislative authority to obtain Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history record information.

tagged: Hiring, HR, "Independent contractor"

TASB HR Services staff will be presenting at the TASA | TASB Conference in Dallas on September 20 and 21.  

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

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 9, 2019, as Texas Education Human Resources Day.

tagged: HR

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is offering grant opportunities to recruit and prepare teachers and principals. 

tagged: HR, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting", "Texas Education Agency"

The current Employment Verification Form (Form I-9) was due to expire on August 31, 2019.

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

SHRM reported the SSA is sending a second round of correction request notices, or “no-match letters,” this fall.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law", Hiring, Recruiting

The Texas Legislature continues to prioritize the safety and welfare of Texas students by refining reporting requirements for educator misconduct.

tagged: "Criminal history", Hiring, "Teacher resignations", Termination

The proposed amendment adds a new subsection defining child abuse or neglect, other maltreatment, and trafficking of a child to align with statute.

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

A recent decision from the highest court in Massachusetts emphasizes the risk employers take on employment actions based on outrage or emotion rather than reason.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, Leave, Termination

We're extending the deadline for the 2019–2020 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey, and districts can now submit responses until September 6.

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

Odessa College and UT-Permian Basin have teamed up to offer a three-year accelerated teaching program to tackle teacher shortages. 

tagged: "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

If you’re looking for a career path that offers an abundance of opportunities for advancement, working in human resources is about as good as it gets.

tagged: Employment, HR

Texas school districts operating on district of innovation calendar exemptions are enjoying earlier start dates, but may need to rethink their payroll calendars as a result.

tagged: Compensation, DOI, Nonexempt, "Payday law"

The DOL opened a 60-day public comment period on proposed revisions to the FMLA forms.

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

A community approach to building safe and secure schools benefits principals and helps prepare for a variety of emergencies.

tagged: Employment, HR

To help address employee retention and attendance issues, some districts look to add employee attendance incentives.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", Employment, HR

The DOL's most recent opinion letter concludes intermittent family and medical leave FML can be used for an employee’s attendance at her son or daughter’s IEP meetings.

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

Learn the definition of an LSSP intern, the benefits of hiring one, and more in this Q&A.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting

School districts are required to provide a coordinated school health program for students, but a registered nurse (RN) is not required on each campus.

tagged: Compensation, "Employment contracts", Staffing

Teaching has always been among the most isolating professions, but rarely have we explored the consequences of a lonely workforce.

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment, "Workplace culture"

A recent report in the New Jersey Herald highlights the importance of having and following established hiring procedures to ensure practices support the organization’s core mission.

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment, Hiring

Districts seeking detailed information on the legislative changes to TRS can now view training videos on YouTube.

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

Learn about Title IX, the federal statute that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funds. 

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance", "Employee notices", "HR training", "Job descriptions"

Find out more about SBEC's new rule concerning supplemental certificate standards for teachers of English Learners. 

tagged: Certification, "English as a Second Language", ESL, "Teacher certification"

The 2019–2020 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey launched July 23 and districts can submit responses until August 20.

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

As we begin the new school year, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of August.

tagged: Benefits, HR, "HR training", Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

The Predictive Index’s annual Employee Engagement Report revealed some interesting insights into the variety of factors that lead to employee engagement.

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

The redesigned principal certification goes into effect this fall. Learn about it in this update.

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

Bilingual and ESL certifications continue to be state-level shortage areas, but some flexibility may be available based on the program model delivered by a school district. 

tagged: Certification, Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting"

Review the several personnel-related bills passed during the 86^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature in this article. 

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

As we start preparations for the new school year, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of July.

tagged: HR

House Bill 3 repealed the provisions authorizing SBEC to issue new or renew master teacher certifications. 

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

Guidance on how to best communicate compensation increases for 2019-2020 is now available in the HR Library.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", "Payday law", "Teacher Pay"

We're excited to announce our new Facebook page! Click here for more information on how to add HR Services to your news feed. 

tagged: HR, "Social media practices"

TEA continues to release new guidance on its dedicated HB 3 website and the latest items relate to teacher pay planning.

tagged: Compensation, TEA, "Teacher Pay", "Texas Education Agency"

This article provides a summary of bills passed in the 86^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature addressing certification requirements for educators and licensing requirements for certain professionals.

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

Several bills passed in the legislative session included provisions requiring additional training for staff. Read about them here.

tagged: "HR training", "Teacher training"

Review some of the legislative changes involving the Teacher Retirement System.

tagged: "Teacher Retirement System", TRS, "TRS ActiveCare", "TRS Care", "TRS surcharge"

A unique program at the University of Houston is aiming to help STEM educators provide more culturally responsive teaching for female and minority students.

tagged: Diversity, "Teacher training"

Are districts required to conduct ethics training for their staff? Find out in this Q&A.

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

Offering employees professional development that is specific and relevant to their job duties can empower them to reach individual, and district goals. 

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

Does an employee on leave for military service accrue leave? Find out in this Q&A.

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

What is the penalty-free resignation date and how does HR calculate it? Find out in this Q&A.

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

We've answered some of the most commonly asked questions about HB3, from calculating increases to defining a full-time employee and much more. 

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

The DOL issued an opinion letter clarifying neither employers nor employees may delay or decline designation of FMLA protection for a qualifying condition.

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

With the EAE program, schools may have an untapped resource of potential teacher candidates among their currently employed educational aides in their district.   

tagged: "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage", "Teacher training"

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

tagged: Compensation, Employment, HR, T-TESS

A new study uncovered some interesting insights on the modern job search, particularly regarding the role smartphones play and which candidates are most likely to use them as their primary tool to hunt for employment.

tagged: Recruiting, Technology

The compensation requirements in HB 3 are broad and give districts flexibility in deciding how best to implement pay increases.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

A study conducted by Michigan State University reveals eye-opening trends, raising questions about discriminatory behavior in performance appraisals.

tagged: Diversity, "Employee performance"

Review the legislative changes addressing early elementary literacy, including a new requirement for the PK–6 certification examination.

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

ELL enrollment has remained stable over the past six years, but the number of different languages spoken in districts has increased significantly, according to a new report.

tagged: Diversity, "English as a Second Language", ESL

At a press conference this afternoon, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House presented a brief summary of changes to educator pay approved in House Bill (HB) 3.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", "Teacher Pay"

District coordinators looking for help understanding leave benefits and managing the process can rely on various HR Services resources to make their jobs easier.

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

Are districts required to translate the employee handbook for employees that are not literate in English? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: "Employee handbook", "English as a Second Language"

With more than a third of Americans using Facebook Marketplace, the tech giant is working to improve the content making up its job search function, according to a news release from the company.

tagged: Recruiting, "Social media practices", Technology

When it comes to reporting suspected child abuse, school district HR has a responsibility to make sure the district employee handbook outlines its requirements and to remind employees they could face severe penalties for failure to report their suspicions.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee handbook", "Employee notices", "Teacher training"

The TRS Benefits Committee met to review proposed changes to TRS-ActiveCare rates for 2019–2020 and approved an increase of 3 percent for all TRS-ActiveCare 1-HD and TRS-ActiveCare Select plans.

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

This year, fewer responding public school districts (20 percent) anticipate freezing pay for 2019–2020 (down from 28 percent last year).

tagged: "Pay increases", Surveys, "Teacher Pay"

Each principal who has first-year teachers on his or her campus is required by SBEC to complete a survey about the preparation of those first-year teachers.

tagged: Surveys, "Teacher training"

As we near the end of another school year, let's take a quick look at the typical HR department's to-do list for the month of May.

tagged: HR, Nonrenewal, Termination, T-TESS

Weekly wage penalties, or the cost to work in the teaching profession instead of going into another field, have increased in the United States over the past couple of decades, and Texas is among the most affected.

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher Pay"

Learn how to respond to and resolve no-match letters when you get them. 

tagged: "Employment law", Hiring, "Personnel records"

Is there really a skills gap, or are employers' expectations unrealistic?

tagged: Employment, Generations, Hiring, Recruiting

There's a new report on researchers working to improve teacher hiring through a strategic approach to the application, screening, and interview process.

tagged: "Employee performance", Hiring, Retention

A new report from the EEOC found the number of discrimination charges filed in Texas decreased significantly in 2018.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance"

Employee surveys can be a great tool to assess working climate. Without a good response rate, however, the district sees only part of the picture. 

tagged: "Employee surveys", Surveys

A new report found Texas is about as average as it gets when it comes to teacher pay, ranking 23rd out of the country’s 50 states.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

Classifying a worker as an employee or an independent contractor presents a number of challenges. Here's the right way to make that determination.

tagged: Employment, "Employment contracts", "Independent contractor"

Taking into consideration indicators of teacher quality like experience, training, and certification, the teacher shortage we’ve been hearing about for years may be significantly worse than originally thought.

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

New research shows students achieve at higher levels in math and reading in countries that pay teachers more for their skills.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

Learn how to sort out the legal standards applicable to probationary, term, and continuing contracts.

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

A BLS report from the month of January found job openings in the U.S. have risen to 7.6 million.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL

Identifying what type of paid leave applies when an employee needs extended leave to care for a family member is just as important as determining eligibility for family and medical leave.

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

Many districts are offering or developing grow your own programs to address teacher shortages. One viable source of candidates is instruction aides.

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

A new report identified a major gap in the availability of counselors and nurses in public schools across the nation.

tagged: Staffing

Read this report for details on the new proposed rule changes to the FLSA.

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

The most significant changes this year relate to clarifying the assignment of duties under a contract.

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

Living wages, or a wage high enough to maintain a normal standard of living, have gained national attention over the last few years and sparked a review of minimum wage law across the country.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", "Wage and hour"

Understanding workers’ compensation benefits can be a challenge. Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge and understanding.

tagged: Compensation, "Workers’ compensation"

With health insurance costs climbing, many employees in Texas districts are picking up extra work on the side.

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance"

What type of certification can districts require when an employee requests FMLA for adoption or foster placement or to care for a newborn? Find out in this Q&A.

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

As schools focus more and more on attacking problems with teacher retention, one district in Tennessee is reporting positive results from its efforts to focus on employee wellness.

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance", Wellness

TxCEE is providing a one-day workshop to help administrators understand Student Learning Objectives.

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

Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code allows employees to purchase certain insurance pre-tax. Here are answers to some common questions districts ask about this type of plan. 

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance"

A recent study found schools with the highest numbers of disadvantaged students also had the least experienced, lowest-rated principals.

tagged: "Employee performance"

We’ve released data from the 2018–2019 TASB Extra-Duty Stipend Survey on DataCentral—this year’s cycle of salary surveys is complete!

tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys", Surveys

Are there restrictions on scheduling itinerant teachers’ planning periods? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: Employment, Retention, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

According to our most recent survey, Texas school district health insurance offerings remain similar to last year with a few small changes.

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

A recent article from SHRM offers a good reminder for HR departments to help employees review and adjust their paycheck withholdings with new tax laws in effect.

tagged: Compensation, "Employment law"

Probationary periods aren’t common in non-unionized settings and can be disadvantageous for school districts for a variety of reasons.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Employment law", Hiring

A few items to look forward to are HRAs and an expansion of HSA opportunities.

tagged: Benefits, HR, Leave

How do letters of reasonable assurance reduce unemployment compensation costs? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: Benefits, Employment, Unemployment

A recent survey looks at consumer engagement and value-based health insurance design. 

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

Can districts provide employees with an electronic W-2? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: Compensation, "Employee notices", "Personnel records", Salaries

Learn about the TEA's plans to address teacher readiness and quality by establishing a new pathway to certification.

tagged: Certification, Hiring, "Teacher certification", "Teacher training"

As the roles of principals continue to expand and evolve, the certification standards for the position have changed along with them. 

tagged: Certification, Hiring, "Professional development"

A recent post on the TASBO Open Forum explains the importance of timely response to last month’s IRS notices regarding alleged violations of the ACA employer mandates.

tagged: ACA, "Affordable Care Act"

How much time are districts required to provide for an employee to express breast milk? Find out in this quick Q&A.

tagged: Benefits, "Employment law", "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, "Wage and hour"

With more than 25,000 ADA charges filed by the EEOC in the past year, it’s more prudent than ever for employers to understand what’s required of them by law.

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

Many districts conduct employee surveys to understand more about what staff members think and feel, but not all have an appropriate strategy for how to proceed after a survey is complete.

tagged: "Employee surveys", HR, Surveys

Did the implementation of T-TESS impact the frequency of teacher appraisals? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: "Employee performance", T-TESS

The federal electronic employment eligibility verification service, E-Verify, has been temporarily disabled because of a lapse in funding.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

A grant program in Louisiana sparked innovative ways of improving preparation for alternatively certified teachers.

tagged: Certification, Retention, "Teacher certification", "Teacher training"

Is an uncertified teacher hired under a school district teaching permit or in a position covered by a district of innovation plan entitled to a Chapter 21 contract?

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

The IRS announced a 3.5-cent increase in standard mileage rates for the 2019 calendar year, which will go into effect January 1. 

tagged: "Internal Revenue Service", IRS

This year sparked a new era for teachers speaking out on pay issues and working conditions.

tagged: "Pay increases", Retention

A total of 96 percent of public school employees do not participate in Social Security, according to a new study conducted by TRS.

tagged: Benefits, "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

The teaching profession received a lot of spotlight throughout 2018. Here's what happened.

tagged: contracts, Employee, HR, performance, Retention, Teacher

As we count down the final days of 2018, take a look back at what readers found the most interesting this calendar year.

tagged: Benefits, Certification, Compensation, HR, "HR training"

The holidays are upon us, as are the calls about pay and benefits during the holiday break. Read December’s myths to make sure that your district has a handle on both.

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

If you're not cautious, hiring for "cultural fit" can lead to unintentional bias that undermines efforts to promote diversity.

tagged: diversity, hiring

Can teachers be required to participate in meetings or professional development during their planning and prep period? Find out here.

tagged: compensation, employment

We have results from the TASB District Personnel Salary Survey and TASB Community College Salary Survey available on DataCentral.

tagged: compensation, salary, surveys

Revamped teacher evaluation standards across the country have increased principals’ attention to instruction, but not all changes are for the better. 

tagged: "Employee performance", T-TESS

The EEOC is offering courses that go beyond traditional harassment prevention training.

tagged: "EEOC compliance", "Employee performance", "HR training"

All districts receiving Title I funds must complete the PR1500 for each of their campuses, regardless of campus Title I status, by November 30, 2018.

tagged: Diversity, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

Check out the different ways Texas districts are staffing their classrooms and fighting shortages.

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher certification"

Market data is a valuable benchmarking tool. Here's how to use it to your district's advantage.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases"

Columbia-Brazoria ISD is launching a new approach to incentivize their best teachers to share skills and knowledge with other teachers.

tagged: Compensation, "Districts of innovation", "Teacher training"

Black students are 13 percent more likely to go to college if they have just one teacher who looks like them by the time they reach third grade.

tagged: Diversity, Staffing

Many organizations believe orientation and onboarding are the same, but they’re two different experiences for new employees.

tagged: Hiring, "Teacher onboarding"

A quick update on the status of potential FLSA changes.

tagged: "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA

The TASB Risk Management Fund has opened up registration for its webinar on securing staff and student data to TASB HR Services members.

tagged: "HR training"

As technology continues to open up new possibilities in education, Texas districts are changing how they manage and employ virtual classrooms.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing

The average pay increase in 2018‒2019 for continuing superintendents was 3.1 percent. Full results from the survey available here. 

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

Learn about the ADA's reasonable accommodation requirements. 

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

A few quick updates for upcoming salary survey deadlines and results. 

tagged: "Salary surveys", "Teacher stipends"

Check out some of the top tweets from this year's HR Academy. 

tagged: HR, "HR training"

In both math and English, students saw drops in learning as a result of a teacher change during the school year. 

tagged: "Teacher resignations"

While bachelor's degrees account for 56 percent of good jobs, other pathways yield similar success. 

tagged: Compensation, Employment

This deep dive into how districts are recruiting in rural areas includes interviews with superintendents, who reveal some of the astonishing challenges they face each recruiting cycle.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Can a district pay noncontract employees when it is closed for an emergency? Find out in this Q&A.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Independent contractor", Leave, "Teacher contracts"

Workplace culture is a big deal—it impacts engagement, productivity, retention, and growth. 

tagged: HR, Recruiting, Retention

A few quick updates regarding multiple salary survey deadlines and result highlights. 

tagged: "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"

Governor Greg Abbott proclaimed Wednesday to be Texas Education HR Day—here's how districts celebrated on social media.

tagged: HR, "Social media practices"

While other industries have managed to rebound from the financial crisis, public schools are still struggling to fill key positions. 

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Two new documents on the subject of educator misconduct are available on the TASB School Law eSource website.

tagged: HR

A recent Education Week report found the public perception of teachers is changing for the better, and drastically. 

tagged:

The ADEA protects applicants and employees who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination and harassment based on age.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "EEOC compliance"

Here's how districts are overcoming challenges in recruiting and retaining bilingual and ESL certified teachers.

tagged: "English as a Second Language", ESL, Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Conducted in even-numbered years, the EEO-5 survey collects data about gender and race/ethnicity by job groupings.

tagged: "EEOC compliance"

Using an interview process with questions focusing on principal competencies is important for successful hiring.

tagged: HR

Learn about the three main pay strategies and when to employ them. 

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases"

Talented teachers in Dallas ISD can advance their salaries higher and faster than in any other school district in Texas.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases"

Districts, Education Service Centers (ESCs), open-enrollment charter schools, educator preparation programs, and higher education institutions all are invited to apply.

tagged: TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

While government entities are exempt from the TPA, charter schools are not. Learn more here. 

tagged: "Payday law"

Rising academic standards, among other factors, are increasing the need for school leaders to focus on instructional leadership. 

tagged: "HR training", "Teacher training"

When districts are unable to recruit and hire a fully certified teacher, they must use other avenues to qualify an instructor.

tagged: Certification, Employment, Hiring, "Teacher certification"

Effective organizations provide employees with clear communications about their pay and benefits and often see higher employee job satisfaction than organizations that don't.

tagged: Salaries

A big change is coming to teacher evaluation systems this year with the introduction of student growth measures.

tagged: "Teacher training"

A district’s pay system should support district goals for recruiting, retaining, and rewarding high quality employees.

tagged: Compensation

At TASB HR Services, we get several common questions about comp time and we’ve listed and answered them in this article.

tagged: Compensation

Learn how can HR staff help employees facing harassment from debt collectors while at work.

tagged: HR

View this Teacher Evaluation infographic for a quick update on teacher evaluation and student growth measures.

tagged: T-TESS

Learn how to determine the amount of assault leave payments. 

tagged: Leave

We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of the #MeToo movement, and sexual harassment remains a key workplace problem employers are trying to solve.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee handbook", HR

Can districts pay employees who waive health care coverage? Get the answer here. 

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

Is a principal’s email to a teacher regarding a parent’s complaint public information? Find the answer to this question and more in today's Q&A.

tagged: HR

Learn whether or not it's permissible to pay 10-month employees over a 12-month period. 

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "Educator contracts"

What does the law say about wage garnishment and student loans? We explain the basics of wage attachments here. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation

Consultants are continually working on new materials for the HR Library and updating existing content. Check out our most recent changes here.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

We answered frequently asked questions on managing FMLA to help you navigate the rules.

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

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

tagged: "Workers’ compensation"

The Family and Medical Leave Tracker, a customizable tool developed by TASB HR Services, is now available for members in the HR Library.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA

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

tagged: Certification

As with any law, some of the ADA's language can be misinterpreted. We've highlighted and explained four myths to clear up common uncertainties. 

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act"

Looking for Texas school district current practices for superintendent contracts? DataCentral has survey results from nearly 300 districts. 

tagged: Surveys

The results from one of our newest surveys are now available on DataCentral.

tagged: Surveys, "Teacher stipends"

The annual Superintendent Salary Survey has officially launched and districts can submit data up until August 24.

tagged: "Superintendent salaries"

Are districts required to pay employees for working outside of the official work calendar?

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

Multiple changes to the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program, including new vendors and limits to exam attempts, will go into effect at the end of August.

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

The TEA announced the shortage areas for 2018–2019, once again revealing a need for bilingual and special education teachers.

tagged: TEA, "Teacher shortage", "Texas Education Agency"

Another year, another great TASPA conference! Check out some of the highlights from the event.

tagged: "Social media practices"

Check out this infographic of what to do and what to avoid on social media for administrators and leaders in education.

tagged: "Social media practices"

Can districts use a third-party vendor to check the criminal history of student teachers and volunteers? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: "Criminal history"

Teachers are not immune to feeling isolated in the workplace, which decreases morale and productivity. Here’s how to overcome those challenges.

tagged: Employment

A new study found tenure of superintendents who have left their position in the nation’s largest schools is about six years, on average.

tagged: Retention, Staffing, Surveys

Must an interim or acting superintendent be certified? Find out in this brief Q&A.

tagged: Certification

School districts can’t offer all the money and perks Google and Apple can, but what can districts do to recruit and retain talented technology staff?

tagged: Recruiting, Retention

The W3C added 17 new success criteria to its accessibility guidelines that primarily address issues related to handheld devices.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act"

Assault leave is a common topic of discussion in the HR world, and we’ve outlined some of the basics with the Q&A in this post.

tagged: Leave, "Workers’ compensation"

There’s a large population of adults on campuses on any given day who typically aren’t included in emergency training and drills—substitute teachers.

tagged: HR, "Teacher training"

Recent celebrity suicides have brought national attention to mental health issues. How can HR support employees who struggle with mental illness?

tagged: Benefits, HR

The current FMLA forms, which are used to certify whether employees are eligible to take leave and to notify them of their leave rights, will expire June 30.

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA

Are districts required to participate in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employee Statistics survey? Find out in this brief Q&A!

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL

Recent headlines involving inappropriate and highly offensive use of social media provides employers with the opportunity to examine hiring practices.

tagged: "Social media practices"

The Sample Records Retention Schedule for personnel records in the HR Library has been updated. Learn more in this article. 

tagged: "Records retention"

Immigration and Customs Enforcement significantly ramped up its worksite investigations during the past federal fiscal year and the agency recently announced it's planning to double down on Form I-9 audits this summer.

tagged: Hiring

There's a new two-day professional learning opportunity to help district administrators better understand Student Learning Objectives and how to implement them.

tagged: "HR training", T-TESS

A district wants to hire a retired teacher to tutor students three days a week for a couple of hours. What pay and benefits requirements apply to this situation?

tagged: Recruiting, "Retire rehire", "Teacher retirement", "Teacher Retirement System"

When can a district issue a 1099, and when must a district consider someone an employee and issue a W-2? The answer is complicated, but we provide a detailed explanation in this article. 

tagged: "Independent contractor"

Use this handy guide to get the information you need when contacting the TEA.

tagged: Certification, TEA

Can we terminate an employee who has exhausted all leave? The answer isn't as simple as you might think.

tagged: Leave, Termination

What should districts do if an employee presents multiple documents to establish identity and work authorization on the Form I-9? Find out in this brief Q&A.

tagged: Hiring

Navigating the process of verifying Social Security numbers through the SSA can sometimes be confusing, but we have some tips that may ease some common concerns. 

tagged: Hiring

There are a lot of rules concerning teacher service records, but there also are a few myths. We’ve separated fact from fiction in this article.

tagged: "Personnel records", "Records retention"

Texas schools districts in some regions will struggle to give pay increases for the 2018‒2019 school year, according to the latest prospective pay raise poll conducted by TASB HR Services.

tagged: "Pay increases"

The 2018–2019 update to the Model Employee Handbook (MEH) is now available through myTASB.

tagged: "Employee handbook", HR

Student growth measures will be a required component of the T-TESS in the upcoming school year. Here's what you need to know.

tagged: T-TESS

What documents must be kept in a former employee’s personnel file and where should they be kept? Find out in this quick Q&A.

tagged: "Personnel records", "Records retention"

A report by Texas Career Check found jobs in the education industry will be plentiful over the next several years.

tagged: "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

In an article published earlier today, SHRM explored some new trends in the recruiting field that’ll help hiring managers reexamine and reevaluate their own methods.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Civil Rap Back program that provides notification of employee’s criminal activity occurring outside the state of Texas is now available.

tagged: "Criminal history"

The nationwide teacher walkouts and protests are producing results, but where does Texas sit with teacher pay and public school funding, and can teachers in the Lone Star State do anything about it?

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", TRS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released today a fact sheet addressing the applicability of white collar exemptions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to common jobs in higher education.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, Overtime

Districts can’t avoid state and federal accountability requirements that impact teachers, but they can address teacher areas of concern like working conditions, administrator support, and pay. 

tagged: Retention, "Social media practices"

It's been six months since Hurricane Harvey devastated southeast Texas, and while all public schools in disaster counties have reopened, many students never returned to their home district.

tagged:

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released five videos on Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compliance designed to help employers more easily understand their legal responsibilities.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL, "Fair Labor Standards Act", FLSA, Overtime

Can school administrators change teacher work hours during the school year? Find out in this brief Q&A.

tagged: "Districts of innovation", DOI, "Teacher contracts"

Many districts are now using private companies to manage payment to game officials, but can they also use third-party organizations to pay other game help?

tagged: Compensation, "Department of Labor", DOL

A new analysis from the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution looked into the effects of financial incentives on attracting minority teachers, check out the details here.

tagged: Staffing

Are districts required to participate in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employee Statistics survey? Find out in this brief Q&A.

tagged: Employment, Surveys

The HR Exchange has been around for more than two decades and even started out under a different name. Learn more about the history of our publication here.

tagged: HR

Even though technology salaries rose slightly, satisfaction with pay has dropped nationwide. Check out more salary trends for technology professionals from the Dice 2018 Tech Salary Report. 

tagged: Compensation, Salaries

Preliminary results from our new Dual Credit Teacher Pay survey reveal less than half of Texas school districts provide the funding for dual credit teacher pay.

tagged: Salaries, "Teacher stipends"

With roughly 65 percent of the American workforce planning to watch March Madness while at work, administrators must learn with ways to reduce the negative impact on productivity or suffer significant financial consequences.

tagged: HR

Learn how to get the most out of our brand new blog format with this quick tutorial. 

tagged: HR

We've put together a list of dos and don’ts that should help HR staff with some relevant Family and Medical Leave guidance.

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

Extra-duty pay for high school football coaches as well as stipend payment methods revealed in latest stipend survey results.

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher stipends"

During the past few years, Texas has increased its focus on improving prekindergarten programs as a means to improve early reading, math, and social development. 

tagged: "Teacher training"

A recent report from The School Superintendents Association (AASA) found nearly three-quarters of superintendents say their school districts are inadequately funded.

tagged: HR

Transitioning to K-12 HR from a different field can be a challenge. The following tips will help new administrators settle into their roles.   

tagged: HR, "HR training"

How long can an employee on unpaid leave continue to receive health coverage through the district? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: Leave, "TRS ActiveCare"

A study conducted by Glassdoor ranked human resources manager as the fifth best job in the country in 2018, up from No. 6 last year.

tagged: HR

A recent report from WalletHub, a personal finance website, found that Texas is the place to look for those seeking employment.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting

What are some of the TEA grants aiding districts in their recruitment of teachers and principals?

tagged: Recruiting

With so many teachers burdened by student loan debt, it’s important for district HR staff to make sure its employees are aware of loan forgiveness programs.

tagged:

Should duty days and salary be written into the employment contract for each employee? Find the answer to this and other questions in this article. 

tagged:

The number of discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Texas is lower than it’s been since 2009, according to an EEOC news release.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance"

A news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) detailed the wages of the nation's 113.3 million full-time and salaried workers in 2017.

tagged: "Department of Labor", "Pay increases"

As districts begin renewal processes, the question of how long someone can be employed by probationary contract arises.

tagged: Staffing

The median Texas teacher average salary rose to $47,898, a slight increase of 1 percent over last year’s median of $47,283, according to the 2017‒2018 TASB Salary Survey. 

tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys"

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a one-cent increase in standard mileage rates for the 2018 calendar year, which became effective January 1.

tagged: HR

After the enactment of the 2017 tax act, the IRS has issued revised tax withholding tables for employees’ paychecks as well as withholding guidance this month to reflect the legislative changes.

tagged: "Payday law"

There will not be any changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2018. The 2017 TASB Model Contracts and related documents are available in the HR Library.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Teacher contracts"

The results of the TASB HR Services Health Insurance Premiums Survey are here. View the data and some of the takeaways in this article.

tagged: "Health insurance"

Does TEA audit continuing professional education CPE credit for renewable standard certificates? Find out in this month's Q&A!

tagged: "Records retention", "Teacher certification"

Where are districts required to publish or post equal employment opportunity (EEO) notices? Find out in this Q&A!

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

It's important to understand the intricacies of workers' compensation—after all, providing those benefits for employees is required by state law.

tagged: "Americans with Disabilities Act", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "Workers’ compensation"

Each year, school districts across the state give employees shirts emblazoned with the district logo to wear throughout the year. Are these items taxable income to the employee, even if it’s just a t-shirt? 

tagged: Benefits

In November, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua and Haiti.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

TASB Legal Services recently updated the School Law eSource article, Employee Free Speech Rights.

tagged: "Employee notices"

HR Academy 2017 was a success, and we appreciate everyone who attended the training.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

A common mistake human resources administrators and managers make is asking employees on Family and Medical Leave (FML) leave to report to work.

tagged: FMLA

Maintaining a multitude of work calendars can be a time-consuming process for human resources and payroll and result in employees being confused about their work start and stop dates.

tagged: Compensation, Staffing

What is Temporary Disability Leave (TDL) and who is eligible for this leave type? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: Leave, "Temporary disability leave"

It’s important for HR staff to ask questions internally about what their district is doing to accommodate its employees.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act"

According to preliminary results of the annual TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey, the average pay increase in 2017‒2018 for continuing superintendents was 2.9 percent. Read this story for details from the survey.

tagged: Compensation

Which employees are eligible for stipends? How much money should be dedicated to an extracurricular stipend? Find the answers to these questions and more in this article. 

tagged: Certification, Compensation, "Teacher stipends"

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick posted another batch of interim charges to Senate committees to look into ahead of the next legislative session.

tagged: Compensation

Employment projection data released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights the fastest-growing jobs in the United States.

tagged: DOL

Check out some of the best tweets from the HR holiday.

tagged: HR, "Social media practices"

Base salaries for U.S. employees are expected to rise 3.1 percent in 2018, slightly above actual 2017 levels, according to an annual WorldatWork survey.
 

tagged: Compensation

For HR administrators in Texas, it’s important to understand what’s behind the high turnover rates so you can better prevent teachers from leaving your district, or leaving the profession entirely. 

tagged: Compensation, Retention, "Teacher training"

Can we hire a TRS retiree as a substitute to fill a vacant position? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: "Teacher Retirement System", TRS, "TRS ActiveCare", "TRS Care", "TRS surcharge"

House Bill (HB) 2610 changed the Texas Education Code by altering instructional requirements from days of instruction to minutes, providing districts greater scheduling flexibility. 

tagged: "Educator contracts", HR

A report from Education Next revealed some enlightening statistics about public opinion of various education topics.

tagged: HR, Salaries

The Texas Equity Plan Toolkit supports districts in the process of developing a district equity plan.

tagged: TEA

Despite persistent shortage areas, Texas’ production of newly certified teachers has held steady during the past two years. 

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

The practice of nepotism has always been an issue in school districts across the country, and it’s important for human resources administrators to understand the details of what is and what isn’t acceptable by law. 

tagged: Employment, "Employment law", Hiring

Texas prides itself on being different from other states—after all, we’re the only state that was once a nation—but how different are our teachers and students from the rest of the United States?

tagged: Employment, Hiring, Recruiting, Staffing

We’ve received a large number of questions related to Hurricane Harvey, so our staff collected the most common ones and provided answers and guidance in this FAQ feature.

tagged: Compensation, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "Teacher contracts"

Does the Every Student Succeeds Act require newly hired paraprofessionals to be highly qualified? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: "Professional development"

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) workers currently holding valid work permits may not be eligible for continued employment when the permit expires. 

tagged: Hiring, Staffing

Learn about the causes of teacher shortages today and some of the staffing challenges districts are facing. 

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing

As Senate Bill 7 goes into effect, districts are deciding how to respond. Learn more in this Q&A!

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

How does school district leave support military deployments? Districts with deployed employees should be prepared to provide leave benefits and reinstatement rights appropriately.

tagged: Leave, Rehire

The devastation of Hurricane Harvey has caused destruction and devastation along the Texas coast and into parts of southeast and central Texas resulting in over 160 district closures.

tagged: HR, Unemployment

The special session adjourned Tuesday, August 15, without the House and Senate coming to agreement on many of the governor’s 20 priorities.

tagged: HR

How did the first year of statewide implementation of T-TESS go? TASB HR Services talked with Texas Education Agency's Linda Johnson to discuss the progress of the new teacher evaluation system. 

tagged: "Teacher training", T-TESS

It's tough to staff schools with quality tech employees, but there are some things a district can do to attract and retain elite tech talent. 

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing, "Teacher recruiting"

In the summer edition of the HR Exchange, TASB HR Services published a report identifying trends among male and female superintendents. This follow-up goes into more detail on why the gap exists.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing

Can an employee use state leave at the beginning of the school year? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: Benefits, Leave

CoachesConnect is a brand new web community for teachers, coaches, and administrators to network and find employment.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Effective September 1, 2017, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) will begin issuing an intern certificate, as well as the probationary certificate. We note the differences between the two in this article.

tagged: Certification

Our new Talent Dashboard is a tool that can be used in absence of an existing analytics tool.
Read on to find out what dashboards are and how they can impact your workforce decisions.

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

A recent survey conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia found nearly two-thirds of new science educators taught at least one course outside their subject area expertise in their first five years in the classroom.

tagged: "Teacher shortage"

New data from Dallas County nonprofit Commit! sheds some light on the effectiveness of TEI. 

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases"

A new report from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt surveyed teachers and administrators from all 50 states on a variety of topics, including classroom technology, professional development, and more.

tagged: "Teacher training"

Check out our recap of the 85th Texas Legislature and find out what bills passed and their impact on HR in districts. 

tagged: Certification, "Districts of innovation", DOI, "Teacher Retirement System", TRS, "TRS Care"

Texas legislators responded to a rise in reports on educator misconduct by passing Senate Bill 7 (SB 7) this session.

tagged: "Criminal history", "Employee discipline"

USCIS released the latest Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on July 17.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

Each university will get approximately $5 million over a 10-year period, with the final figure contingent upon how many students pursue the scholarship.

tagged: "Teacher training"

Improving website accessibility for individuals with disabilities is not only a good district practice, but a requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act"

Can a district require direct deposit of employee paychecks? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: Compensation, "Payday law"

Take a look at the new rates for next year.

tagged: Benefits, "Teacher retirement", "Teacher Retirement System", TRS

How are districts using HRIS in 2017? What are districts doing to get help with their HRIS? Check out some of the latest trends here. 

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

The onboarding process is a pivotal time in the hiring of a new employee. If done properly, it helps employers reduce turnover and employees form better relationships and understand job expectations. 

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "HR training"

Teachers receiving merit-based pay provide the equivalent of nearly four additional weeks of student learning, according to a recent study.

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

We spoke with HR staff across the state to learn about what challenges they faced this year and what successes they enjoyed. Some of their insights also give a peek into HR in 2017–2018. 

tagged: HR, "HR training"

All major components of the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) remain in place following a legal agreement with various teacher organizations in the state, according to Commissioner of Education Mike Morath.

tagged: T-TESS

USCIS announced a redesign to the Permanent Resident Card—also known as a Green Card—as  well as the Employment Authorization Document.

tagged: Diversity

McAllen ISD is one of the many districts offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to transportation employees and other workers through the Texas Workforce Commission's (TWC) Adult Education and Literacy Program. 

tagged: Benefits, "English as a Second Language", ESL

Is the district required to remove access to an inactive employee’s information in the fingerprint clearinghouse? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: "Criminal history", "Employee discipline"

A new study of teacher demographics, backgrounds, experience, and work locations found that today’s workforce is larger, more diverse, and less experienced than ever. 

tagged: Employment, Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

We’ve come up with a list of things to do to help recruit and retain bilingual teachers and overcome some of the staffing challenges many districts face.

tagged: "English as a Second Language", ESL, Recruiting

Districts who have a grasp on what motivates Generation Z will have a better chance at recruiting and retaining them. Here’s what we know so far.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting

Pay raises are in a holding pattern for 2017‒18 in Texas schools, with overall expected increases unchanged from last year, according to the latest prospective pay raise poll conducted by TASB HR Services.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

Certain districts must develop a plan for how they will identify and address disparities that result in low-income students and minority students being taught by ineffective teachers.

tagged: "Teacher training"

The Rural Schools Task Force hosted regional forums on teacher recruitment, retention, use of technology, resource allocation, as well as parent and community engagement.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting"

Can a teacher withdraw his or her resignation once it has been submitted? Find out in this Q&A!

tagged: "Teacher resignations", Termination

Established 20 years ago by the University of Texas at Austin, UTeach is a program dedicated to producing more effective math and science teachers in high quantities.

tagged: "Teacher training"

Only 37 percent of public schools across the country provide full-time athletic training services, but in Texas, that percentage is much higher.

tagged: Hiring

Data from the TASB District Personnel Salary Survey shows that, since 2007, fewer districts are utilizing the state minimum teacher salary, instead paying above the minimum required. 

tagged: Compensation, Staffing

Consultants in HR Services and attorneys in Legal Services regularly field calls from district staff about educator contracts, and there are general topics and themes that emerge as common among districts.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Teacher contracts"

The Texas Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 7 (Bettencourt) on Wednesday, March 8, which addresses improper relationships between educators and students. 

tagged: "Criminal history"

There's now another place you can post job vacancies online—your district’s Facebook page.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Social media practices", "Teacher recruiting"

Are instructional employees eligible for intermittent family medical leave? Find out in this Q&A!

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

Since the 2014 oil bust, have bus driver vacancies been filled? As oil prices rebound, what changes might we expect in bus driver pay? 

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, Staffing

A fraudulent phishing scam has circulated throughout districts in Texas and across the country in recent months, exposing private W-2 information of employees in several school districts.

tagged: HR

Learn how the new American Dream crafted by millennials may affect public education employers in this article. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Employment

Extra-duty pay for high school football coaches and other extracurricular duties revealed in latest stipend survey results.

tagged: Compensation, "Teacher stipends"

In the midst of a legislative session in which school funding is sure to be further reduced, districts are tasked with creating new ways to offer more benefits with fewer resources.

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Recruiting

Considering the opportunities to market district culture, the ability to network, recruit, and keep up with the latest news, Twitter provides numerous benefits for someone in an HR role. 

tagged: "Social media practices"

Bryan ISD's targeted compensation plan focuses on increasing academic success and attracting and retaining high-performing classroom teachers.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries, "Teacher stipends"

HR Services surveys cover Texas public school district practices for superintendent contracts, teacher contracts, and administrator and professional support contracts. Read our results here.

tagged: "Teacher contracts"

HR Services surveys cover Texas public school district practices for superintendent contracts, teacher contracts, and administrator and professional support contracts. Read our results here.

tagged: Hiring, HR, Staffing

Becoming a District of Innovation can have a big impact on the way HR operates. We have a few tips in this article on how to facilitate a seamless transition. 

tagged: Certification, "Districts of innovation", DOI, HR

A new study by ManpowerGroup discovered nearly half of all global employers are lacking in the talent department.

tagged: "Professional development", Recruiting

Out of his own private resources, HEB chairman and CEO Charles Butt is making a $100 million donation to help create The Holdsworth Center in Austin, a training academy for public school administrators.

tagged: "Teacher training"

The most significant changes to the TASB Model Contracts in 2017 are those relating to the federal changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA) removing the requirement for teachers to be highly qualified.

tagged: Certification, "Educator contracts"

The second half of this two-part story explores different practices from various districts on how they map out their teacher career pathways. 

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Career pathways provide opportunities for professionals with advanced skills and abilities to do more—and earn more—by taking on more complex work assignments. 

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Recruiting quality teachers is a challenge every district faces on an ongoing basis, but the difficulty in doing so is amplified for districts in rural areas of the state.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

The median Texas teacher salary rose to $47,283, an increase of 2 percent over last year’s median of $46,450, according to the 2016‒2017 TASB Salary Survey. Median teacher salaries have been steadily rising since 2012.

tagged: Compensation, Salaries, "Salary surveys"

On November 14, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

Most responding Texas school districts (82 percent) saw their health insurance costs rise in 2016‒2017, according to the latest health insurance premiums survey conducted by TASB HR Services. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, "Health insurance"

School climate impacts multiple variables in a school’s success, from retaining teachers to overall achievement. Here's how to improve yours. 

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment

Knowing your HR Information System’s capabilities and maximizing them for your district’s benefit will inspire greatness in your department.

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

Do holidays count toward an employee’s FML entitlement? Find out in this month's Q&A!

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

HR is responsible for a wide range of topics their board members should know about—far more than just employee discipline. 

tagged: HR

Handling a request from an employee for a workplace accommodation is an important issue that must be handled correctly by all district staff. Following are some guidelines and reminders to help ensure legal and effective management of ADA accommodations.

tagged: ADA, "Americans with Disabilities Act"

What type of employee information can a district collect to use in the event of an emergency? Find out in this month's Q&A!

tagged: "Employee notices"

The value in spending time and resources in training teachers is higher than ever, thanks to a variety of initiatives, programs, and legislation forming around the country. Read about some of the recent developments in teacher prep here. 

tagged: "Teacher training"

The value of employee engagement cannot be understated. Here's how you can ensure your district is taking the right steps in providing an engaging work environment. 

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment

At TASB HR Services, we are consistently finding new ways to assist our members in addition to the numerous services we already offer. If you’re a member, we encourage you to check out all of our resources in this story.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

Can an employee whose significant other is expecting a baby take leave under FML?

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA

Effective July 1, 2016, districts had to adopt the use of T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System) or a locally developed appraisal system that adheres to TEC § 21.352 and 19 TAC § 150.1007. 

tagged: T-TESS

One of the elements of education that has evolved with the growth of technology is how educators are communicating with their students, particularly outside of class. Find out what group-messaging platforms districts are using and how to facilitate that communication in this story. 

tagged:

Pay structures and retirement systems in education no longer meet the needs of new graduates, and they appear to be driving high-achieving millennials into other professions. What can the education field do to attract the new generation?

tagged: Generations

Amy Turner, principal of Copeland Elementary School (grades 2–5) in Huffman ISD uses a unique approach to develop teacher selection committees on her campus. Read about her process here. 

tagged: "Teacher training"

Are districts still required to send parents notices regarding teacher qualifications? We answer and explain in great detail for this month's Q&A!

tagged: HR

Employee health is kind of a big deal. Most districts are aware of that fact. Here's what some districts are doing to ensure the well-being of their staff. 

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance"

As employer wellness programs have grown in numbers and sophistication, the EEOC has developed guidance on how these programs should comply with the ADA rule. Here are highlights of the requirements that your wellness program needs to follow.

tagged: "EEOC compliance"

While predicting the future sounds like the stuff of horoscopes and psychics, anticipating what’s headed our way can help us be prepared for the possible challenges. What’s in store for HR in 2016-17? Let’s take a look into our crystal ball.

tagged: FLSA, HR, T-TESS

It’s tough to keep up with the latest trends in best practices for online application management. Fortunately, we’ve come up with some ways to make sure your district is current in its online recruiting presence.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

Can we release personnel information to someone acting on behalf of an employee?

tagged: "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "Personnel records"

The successful matchmaking website eHarmony.com recently unveiled the beta version of its next venture, Elevated Careers by eHarmony. Is this the way Generation Z will look for jobs?

tagged: HR

The field of human resources has been around for more than a century, but as the workplace continues to evolve, so must the HR profession. We take a look at some of the field's biggest challenges for the future.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

Payroll and human resources are both vital units in a school district, but confusion and frustration can arise from lack of clarity in understanding which department can most effectively handle specific tasks.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

Texas uses a combination of backgrounding systems to screen teachers, but certain flaws leave room for improvement in preventing hires of out-of-state educators with criminal histories.

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

The dangerous part about low-performing employees is the contagious effect they have on their coworkers. A recent study shows underachievers not only reduce workplace morale but drive out their high-performing colleagues.

tagged: "Employee performance"

Substitute teachers are in high demand, but what caused the shortage to begin with? We explore the multiple reasons districts are in need of subs now more than ever.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher shortage"

T-TESS, the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System, is coming soon and it promises to be a sea change in the way teachers and instructional leaders work together.

tagged: T-TESS

With the highest number of discrimination charges in almost every major category, Texas is the state with perhaps the greatest need for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training.

tagged: "EEOC compliance"

Under the new T-TESS appraisal system, does the end-of-year conference have to be completed before we can recommend nonrenewal of a teacher's contract to the Board of Trustees?

tagged: T-TESS

With ongoing teacher shortages, many districts are turning to social media to recruit young talent. 

tagged: "Social media practices"

As the reporting deadlines under the Affordable Care Act near, many new questions arise regarding compliance with the IRS.

tagged: ACA, "Affordable Care Act"

Where do districts draw the line on political activity at school?

tagged: HR

A new Administrator’s Interpretation on joint employment should be reviewed by districts that take part in an educational co-op or outsource school district functions.

tagged: Employment, "Employment law"

Educator misconduct cases seem to be in the news daily, keeping TEA’s Educator Investigations office busy. Director Doug Phillips talks about how the department’s new subpoena powers are working.

tagged: TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

The Gates Foundation announced its intent to focus its education reform efforts on teacher preparation in April 2015. Its first effort includes a grant for Texas Tech's College of Education.

tagged: "Teacher training"