Educators urge lawmakers to let private and parochial years count toward teachers’ retirement

Former private and parochial school teachers, education advocates and union representatives asked the Joint Committee on Public Service to report favorably on legislation that would allow years taught in private/parochial schools to be purchased as creditable service in the Massachusetts retirement system (House Bill 2873 / Senate Bill 1900).

Carrie McDonald Schwab, a teacher with more than four decades in education, described how early work in parochial schools shaped her career and said that those years of service currently are not recognized for retirement credit in the same way as public service. She and other witnesses framed the bills as a matter of fairness and professional recognition.

Brent Duncan and Mike Canavan from the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts said the measure would expand access to credible service purchase and is similar to prior bills affecting teachers, nurses, and other school professionals. Duncan also described related proposals to allow school nurses to buy back experience and changes to permit former parochial teachers to purchase service after 1973.

Proponents emphasized that purchases must be paid by the employee prior to retirement and are intended to recognize legitimate years of professional experience rather than pad benefits. They asked the committee to move the measures forward. No committee vote occurred at the hearing.

Ending: Supporters said the change would value teachers’ full careers and help retention; the hearing record included no fiscal note or retirement board position on the record.