February 2026 Reporting Tips
Special Delegate Election Opens in March
This spring, NYSTRS will launch a special delegate election to fill tickets where both delegate and alternate positions are vacant. This election helps ensure that employers with open delegate slots are represented and that NYSTRS members continue to be supported with local points of contact.
Elected by peers at their employer, delegates serve two important functions: to elect a member to the Retirement Board at the Annual Delegates Meeting, and to serve as a liaison between NYSTRS and the members in their district.
The special election period opens March 1, 2026 and runs through Oct. 1, 2026.
Delegates and alternates reported during the special election will serve until the current term ends on July 31, 2027.
What Employers Need to Do
It is the responsibility of the Chief School Administrator (CSA) or their designee to establish reasonable election procedures, hold elections, and report the results to NYSTRS.
To determine whether your district has vacancies, review the 2025-2027 Delegates list, which shows:
- The number of delegates allotted to each district.
- Current district representatives.
- Any open delegate/alternate slots.
If there is only one candidate for a position, no formal vote is required.
Election results must be reported to NYSTRS by Oct. 6, 2026.
Newly elected delegates and alternates begin serving as soon as election results are reported.
There are currently more than 300 districts with vacancies eligible to be filled in the special election period. Only vacancies that are open in both the delegate and corresponding alternate seat may be filled during the special election. However, it is not mandatory for a delegate to run with an alternate.
Additional details about the special election process, including how employers must report election results to NYSTRS, are available on the Employers/Delegate Election & Annual Meeting page of our website and “Entering Delegate Election Results,” found in Section 6: The Employer Secure Area (ESA) in the Employer Manual.
Review Incomplete Membership Registrations in ESA
Please review your updated Incomplete Membership Registrations list, available in the Employer Secure Area (ESA) under Membership – Tier 6 Action Items.
Provide NYSTRS with the original Application for Membership (NET-2) for each member listed.
The incomplete registrations list may also include returning members.
As outlined in Section 1: Membership in the Employer Manual, eligible employees who join the System must complete an Application for Membership (NET-2), have the application notarized, and return the completed application to the employer’s business office. The employer must then complete Part 2 of the application and mail the original to NYSTRS.
Why This is Important
Completed membership applications ensure that the System has each member’s contact information and beneficiary designation on file. Without them, we may not be able to contact the member or pay benefits they have earned.
Once NYSTRS receives a member’s completed application, they will be notified of the completed registration, and their name will be removed from your Tier 6 Action Items list.
If a Member is No Longer Employed
If there is an individual listed under your Tier 6 Action Items who is no longer employed by the district, notify your editor or NYSTRS at [email protected] so that individual can be removed from your list.
Prior Service Verification: What Employers Need to Know
To apply for prior service credit, members must obtain verification of their service from former employers.
Employers should follow the instructions in Section 12: Prior Service in the Employer Manual, specifically the section “Employer Prior Service FAQs and Guide to Completing Prior Service Verification Forms.” These instructions explain how to accurately complete the Prior Service Verification (PRS-3) form.
Calculating Days of Service for Stipend or Fee-Based Work
Employers should pay close attention when calculating days of service for coaching or other stipend- or fee-based work. Employers must use the appropriate pay rate based on when the service was rendered:
- For service rendered Dec. 31, 2012 or earlier, use the lowest substitute rate of pay to calculate service credit.
- For service rendered Jan. 1, 2013 and later, use the lowest entry level teacher salary to calculate service credit.
Questions or Assistance
If you have questions or need assistance with completing a Prior Service Verification (PRS-3) form, contact our Prior Service unit at 800-348-7298, ext. 6030.