Office of Human Resources

Post-Probationary Highly Effective Retention Incentive

(formally known as AB483)

FAQ’s – 2021-22

What is the Post-Probationary Highly Effective Retention Incentive?

Per NRS 391A.450 and 455, the District must set aside funds for high performing contracted teachers and licensed administrators beginning in the 2019-20 school year. These funds address educational reform and improvement efforts to recruit and retain highly effective teachers and administrators outlined in Envision WCSD 2020.

Who is eligible to receive the Post-Probationary Highly Effective Retention incentive?

Special Education Teachers

I work half-time. Am I eligible to receive the incentive?

No. The incentive is for eligible full-time teachers only.

I was hired as critical needs, am I eligible for the incentive?

No. Critical needs hires are not eligible for the incentive.

I was hired as a long-term substitute teacher. Am I eligible for the incentive?

No. Employees must be a contracted Special Education Teachers to be eligible for this incentive.

How was the eligible subject area selected?

To select which subject areas are eligible for the incentive for the 2021-22 the District performed a review of vacancies for the last four (4) years to determine where there were constant openings and positions that remained unfilled. In doing that analysis, it was determined that Special Education would be the eligible subject area for this year.

Why are there no specific schools like there were in previous years?

Similar to the 2019-20 school year, the decision was made to focus this incentive on Special Education.

How much is the incentive?

Resource, Gifted and Talented Teachers, Speech Language Pathologist: $1,500*

Strategies, SPED Early Childhood (including EC Integrated, EC Inclusion, EC Strategies, EC Developmentally delayed), SIP, CLS, Social Resource, Home Hospital, Integrated Kindergarten Teachers: up to $2,000*

*Amounts will be pro-rated based on the number of employees who meet the eligibility criteria.

Is there any other reason why an incentive will be pro-rated?

Although the employee must be full-time to be eligible for the incentive, his/her incentive will be pro-rated based on the amount of time that s/he spends in a Special Education assignment. For example, if an employee is a .5 Special Education teacher and a .5 Science teacher, s/he will be eligible for half of the incentive for his/her Special Education assignment.

When will the incentive by paid?

Incentives will be paid in November 2022 if employee meets the eligibility criteria listed in #13.

Is this incentive PERS eligible?

Yes. Per law, it will be PERS eligible.

If I am teaching in Special Education and I change schools for the 2021-22 school year, will I still be eligible for the incentive?

If the employee is a Special Education Teacher, s/he must remain as a Special Education Teacher but s/he can transfer to any school and still be eligible for the incentive.

However, if you work at one of the Acceleration or High Needs schools, you will be eligible for up to an extra incentive amount up to $500*.

*Amount will be pro-rated based on FTE as qualifying school

For the 2021/22 school year the follow schools have been identified:

The following schools have been designated as High Needs for 2021-22:

The following are Acceleration Schools for 2021-22:

How do I know if I’m eligible for the incentive?

For the 2021-22 school year a Special Education Teacher is eligible to earn the incentive if s/he satisfies the following criteria:

• Certified Staff who are licensed and teaching as a Special Education classroom teacher; AND
• Hold the proper endorsement for the Special Education area s/he is teaching; AND
• Actively employed as a Special Education classroom teacher at the time the incentive is paid (November 2022); AND
• Post-Probationary for the 2021-22 school year; AND
• Remain as a Special Education classroom teacher from the 2020-21 school year to the 2021-22 school year; AND
• Must be a Special Education classroom teacher in October 2022; AND
• Remain full-time (1.0) status from the 2020-21 school year to the 2021-22 school year; AND
• Have a Highly Effective April 2022 evaluation including SLO ratings.

I am currently in the Special Education Options program. Do I qualify?

Employees must hold the proper endorsement for the Special Education area s/he is teaching. For example, if the employee is teaching Strategies, s/he must have an Autism endorsement.

I took a leave of absence during the 2021-22 school year. Do I qualify?

If an employee was out on leave for the entire 2021-22 school year, s/he does not qualify for the incentive. If an employee was out for a portion of the year on an approved leave of absence, that time will not count against the employee.

Who do I contact if I want to appeal my eligibility status?

Employees wishing to appeal not receiving an incentive payment may contact Kate Schum, Human Resources Manager, at kschum@washoeschools.net.

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