One of ACSA’s highest priorities throughout the years has been protecting and enhancing retirement benefits for its members. The median State Teachers Retirement System pension replaces only 53 percent of the final salary for current and retired members. Financial planners recommend income replacement of 80 percent to 85 percent to maintain a similar lifestyle in retirement. CalSTRS retirees, who are eligible for social security pensions, will have pension benefits reduced under the current social security laws.

ACSA staff continues to work with ACSA’s Retirement Committee and the Retirement Coalition to confront several major retirement policy challenges, such as the issues related to Social Security Laws, STRS Unfunded Liability, Earnings Limitation Laws, Earnings Spiking regulations and, most recently, Protection of Purchasing Power and the attempt to reconfigure the Supplemental Benefits Maintenance Account through the State Budget Bill.