School Compensation
& Benefits

Benefits

In addition to your competitive salary, we offer the following benefits:

Generous time off: all school holidays (including winter and spring breaks), summer vacation, 8 sick days, 4 personal days, and 3 weeks of fully paid parental leave
Up to $10,500 in financial support to enroll in a certification preparation program to become a certified Washington elementary teacher
Special 15% discount on tuition for teacher certification programs at CityU.
Medical, dental, vision, long term disability insurances
Retirement account with employer contributions
Free mental health support + more through our employee assistance program.
Growth pathways: Teaching Fellows can pursue promotion to Lead Teacher

Time Off

In addition to your competitive salary, we offer a generous paid time off package:

Salaried Teaching Roles

All regular school holidays.
8 Paid Sick Days
4 Paid Personal Days
3 Paid Bereavement Days
5 Paid Jury Duty Days
Wellness Fridays - leave school at 1 pm
Paid Summer Time Off

Salaried/Hourly Admin & Operations Roles

All regular school holidays.
5 Paid Sick Days
3 Paid Personal Days
3 Paid Bereavement Days
5 Paid Jury Duty Days
Wellness Fridays - leave school at 1 pm
Summer Fridays: IPS is closed at 1 pm
4th of July week

School Employee Benefit Board (SEBB) Medical Benefits

Health benefits are available to school based employees anticipated to work more than 630 hours during the current school year (Full-time and Part-time employees). Employees anticipated to work fewer than 630 hours during the school year, and employees of a school that is not yet operational (in its first year or later) are not eligible for SEBB health benefits.

Click here to compare SEBB 2023 Medical Benefits.

MEDICAL

Employees may choose from three medical plans. To get a summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) to help you compare the medical plans and benefits, terms, and costs for care from network and out-of-network providers, visit: hca.wa.gov/erb. The most common medical plans employees chose from are:

Kaiser Permanente
Premera
Uniform Medical Plan (UMP)

DENTAL

Employees may choose from the following dental providers:

Uniform Dental
DeltaCare Dental
Willamette Dental

VISION

Employees may choose from the following dental providers:

Davis Vision
EyeMed Vision MetLife

LONG-TERM DISABILITY

For the 2023-24 plan year, the SEBB Program will automatically enroll all eligible employees in employee paid LTD insurance with 60-percent coverage of insured income and a 90-day benefit waiting period, unless they are already enrolled. You will not need to provide evidence of insurability.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT

The Medical FSA allows you to set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for out-of-pocket health care costs. HCA contracts with Navia Benefit Solutions to process claims and provide customer service for SEBB members.

Department of Retirement Services (DRS)

As a public employee in Washington, you’re eligible for retirement benefits administered by the Department of Retirement Services (DRS).

There is a secondary retirement plan called the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) that we also highly recommend! The DCP is a special type of savings program that helps you invest for the retirement lifestyle you want to achieve—a lifestyle that might be hard to reach with just your pension and Social Security. This is not a requirement and you may opt in and out at any time.

DRS Info

DCP Info

Teachers, instructional administrators w/ a certificate

If you are hired into an eligible instructional school based position, you are a member of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). An instructional school based position is anyone who is certified to teach and is employed by Impact as an instructor, administrator or supervisor.

There are two plans to choose from:

TRS Plan 2 (pension only)

Employee contribution rate: 8.06%
Employer contribution rate: 9.70%

TRS Plan 3 (pension and investment)

Employee contribution rate: Between 5%-15%
Employer contribution rate: 9.70%

Non instructional staff

If you are hired into an eligible non instructional school based position, you are a member of School Employee Retirement System (SERS). A school based position is anyone who is not in a teaching position and is employed by a public school as school support staff.

There are two plans to choose from:

SERS Plan 2 (pension only)

Employee contribution rate: 7.76%
Employer contribution rate: 10.93%

SERSPlan 3 (pension and investment)

Employee contribution rate: Between 5%-15%
Employer contribution rate: 10.93%

Download the ADP app!

With the ADP app, you can access pay & tax info, submit and approve timesheets, review and manage benefits, and more!

Learn More

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides you, your spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, coaching and problem solving services that are free, convenient, and confidential with a licensed behavioral health provider. Receive up to three sessions with a qualified clinical expert, and access a range of online resources.

You can access the EAP 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 800-777-4114 or login below using the username: impactps.

EAP

SEBB FAQ

Am I eligible for SEBB benefits?

Generally, you are eligible for the employer contribution toward SEBB benefits if you work in a school district or charter school, or are a represented employee of an educational service district (ESD), and your employer anticipates you will work at least 630 hours during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Paid holidays and paid leave, such as sick, personal, and bereavement leave, count toward the required hours. If your first day of work is on or after September 1, but not later than the first day of school for the current school year as established by the SEBB organization, you are eligible for the employer contribution on the first day of work. If your first day of work is at any other time during the school year, you are eligible for the employer contribution on that day.

What happens if I don't enroll in benefits within the first 31 days?

If you do not make a plan selection within 31 days of your hire date, SEBB will automatically enroll you in the default plan:

Medical: UMP Achieve 1
Dental: Uniform Dental Plan
Vision: Metlife vision
LTD: 60%
$25 monthly tobacco charge

For more information on plans, premiums and supplemental coverage, please follow the links below.

How do I register for a SEBB account?

Visit SEBB My Account and click the green Log into SEBB My Account button at the top of the webpage.
You will be directed to SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to create an account. You only need to do this step one time. (Why do I need a SAW account? SAW is the state’s secure single sign-on portal for external users. A SAW account will keep your sensitive information secure. You can access multiple government services online with a single user ID and password that you create and manage yourself.)

To create a SAW account:

Click Sign up.

Enter your:

Name

Personal email address

A username

A password
(If you already have a SAW account, enter your username and password and skip to step 5.) Remember to save your username and password in a safe place so you don’t forget it the next time you log in.

Check the box to indicate you are not a robot.

Click the Submit button.

Follow the link to activate your account.

Check your email for a message from SAW.

Click on the confirmation link, then close the account-activated browser window that opens, and return to your original window.

Follow the instructions on the screen to finish creating your account.

Watch for your code. After you log in to SAW, you will be prompted to add multifactor authentication (MFA). Select how you'd like to receive a code — either email or text message. The system will send you a code.

Enter the code you received and submit.

You will be sent back to SEBB My Account.

Enter your:

Last name

Date of birth

Last four digits of your Social Security number

Click Verify my information.

If you have logged in to SEBB My Account before, you'll be directed to your dashboard.

If this is your first log in, after you click Verify my information, select your security questions and add answers. You will be directed to the SEBB My Account dashboard.

Need help registering? Use the SEBB My Account User Guide.

How do I enroll in SEBB benefits?

Once you log in to SEBB My Account, you can follow the step-by-step tool at the top of the page to guide you through the enrollment process. The four steps are:

Add your dependents

Enter your dependents information. If you are not adding dependents, you can skip to step 3.

Verify your dependents
HCA may audit dependent enrollment. Please make sure to keep the documents you submit.

Upload documents from your computer or mobile device to verify your dependents’ eligibility. A list of acceptable documents (like a birth or marriage certificate, or recent tax return and acceptable file types) is available through a link on the page. After you upload your documents, they must be verified by your payroll or benefits office before your dependents can enroll under your coverage.

If you are unable to upload documents online, you can provide paper documents to your payroll or benefits office.

Attest to the premium surcharges

Answer a series of on-screen questions to determine whether you will be charged the $25 tobacco use premium surcharge and, if applicable, the $50 spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical premium.

Select your plans

When you are ready, select your plans by checking the box next to the medical, dental, and vision plans you want.
If you have other employer-based medical coverage, TRICARE, or Medicare, you can waive SEBB medical coverage

What actions can I take when I access my SEBB My Account?

View your medical, dental, and vision coverage information
Download your statement of insurance
View your employer-paid basic life and basic AD&D insurance information (employees only)
Reduce or decline employee-paid long-term disability insurance
View your premium surcharge attestations
Make changes to your tobacco use premium surcharge attestation (if applicable)
Make changes based on qualifying events specified in SEBB Program rules

What plans, premiums, and supplemental coverage do HO benefits cover?

What actions can I take during open enrollment?

For school-based employees, you can make the following changes during open enrollment in October:

Make changes to your SEBB benefits
Attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharges (if applicable)
Waive medical coverage for yourself or return from waived status
Add dependents. You must provide proof of your dependent’s eligibility. It is recommended that you add your child to the health plans you want them enrolled on even if dependent verification is still pending.
Remove dependents
Reduce or decline employee-paid long-term disability insurance

For Home Office employees, you can make the following changes during open enrollment in September:

Make changes to your benefits
Waive medical coverage for yourself or return from waived status
Add dependents. You must provide proof of your dependent’s eligibility. It is recommended that you add your child to the health plans you want them enrolled on even if dependent verification is still pending.
Remove dependents
Reduce or decline employee-paid long-term disability insurance

Where is my insurance card?

DRS FAQ

How do I set up an online retirement account?

If you have yet to set up an online account for the Department of Retirement Services, click here!

How do I access my retirement account?

As a member or retiree in any DRS pension plan, you can securely access your retirement account online. And it takes just a few minutes to activate your account.

Employed members use online accounts to:

Retired members use online accounts to:

Update your address information
Get copies of 1099-Rs
Send secure messages to DRS
Track your return-to-work hours
Sign up for direct deposit

What is the School Employee Retirement System (SERS)?

In general, you are automatically a member of SERS if you are hired into an eligible position. A SERS-eligible position is normally compensated for at least 70 hours of work per month for at least five months of each year and the employer is a Washington state public school district or educational service district.

Enrollment in your specific SERS plan (Plan 2 or Plan 3) depends on additional conditions, including your hire date and the plan you chose at the time you first went to work for a DRS-covered employer.

Click here for more information.

What is the Teacher Retirement System (TRS)?

In general, you are automatically a member of TRS if you are hired into an eligible teaching position. A TRS-eligible teaching position is normally compensated for at least 70 hours of work per month for at least five months between September and August.

A teacher is anyone who is certified to teach and is employed by a public school as an instructor, administrator or supervisor.

Enrollment in your specific TRS plan (Plan 2 or Plan 3) depends on additional conditions, including your hire date and the plan you chose at the time you first went to work for a DRS-covered employer. might be optional.

Click here for more information.

What are the retirement contribution rates?

Member and employer contribution rates for Washington’s retirement systems are established every two years. Rates for retirement plans are approved by the Washington State Pension Funding Council. Rates are reviewed and approved in even-numbered years so they can be incorporated into the state’s next two-year budget cycle beginning July 1 of odd-numbered years. The new rates have been established for the next two years 2021-2023. These rates will be reflected in the September 30th payroll. Click here for more information regarding rates.

Payroll FAQ

When will I receive my first paycheck?

If you start before the 16th of the month, you will receive your first paycheck close to or on the last business day of the month. If you start after the 16th of the month, you will receive your first paycheck close to or on the last business day of the next month. All payments will be made through direct deposit. Your first or last check will be prorated in months of partial employment (in other words, if you begin working for IPS after the first day of the month or end your employment with IPS prior to the last day of the month).

How do I change my direct deposit?

How do I complete the W-4 form?

The IRS has issued a new form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, to be used beginning Jan. 1, 2020. This change stems from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018 and eliminated personal exemptions and doubled the standard deduction when filing personal taxes. This new form and accompanying Tax Withholding Estimator are meant to ensure you have the proper amount of federal tax dollars withheld from your paycheck. Click here to review more information.

To update your W-4 information, log into ADP > click on Myself > under Pay click on Tax Withholdings

What if I need to be reimbursed for my expenses?

What do I need to know about my pay if I resign or are terminated?

Who should I contact if I have questions regarding my salary?

Who should I contact if I see an issue on a paycheck?

Paid Time Off FAQ

What is paid time off?

Time off is when an employee is given permission to take time off from work using their general time off allotment. The time that’s taken is typically paid. On rare occasions, employees will take unpaid time off. No more than 5 unpaid days may be taken per year.

Human resources is not involved in the approval of general time off requests. Requests are approved at the discretion of the employee's direct supervisor.

Employees should enter a leave request in ADP after discussing the leave with their supervisor. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the leave request is entered into ADP and then approving the request.

General time off allotment:

Sick
Personal
Vacation
Bereavement
Jury Duty
Unpaid, extended LWOP
Reoccurring medical appointments (will require a medical note/ release form)

For a variety of reasons, certain days may not be taken as paid time off and all school-based employees are strongly encouraged to be at work. These days include the days immediately before/after a holiday, professional development days, NWEA/SBAC testing days, and the first and last month of school. Approval of time off during blackout periods is at the discretion of supervisors.

What is an extended leave of absence?

Extended leave is when an employee is given permission to take time off from work for an extended period of time by their direct supervisor. The time that is taken can either be paid, unpaid, or a combination of both, and mandatory or voluntary depending on the circumstances of the request.

Extended time off is often for:

Birth/Adoption/Foster Care
Illness/injury/incapacitation of requesting employee
Care of family member, including medical/dental/optical examination of family member, or bereavement
Care of family member with a serious health condition
Military service
Domestic violence
Recurring medical appointments

The extended leave process is as follows:

Speak with your direct supervisor about taking an extended leave of absence
Complete this form here for approval
Add time off in ADP - note, you must exhaust all of your personal, sick and vacation time before going on leave without pay

What happens to my benefits if I go on extended leave?

How do I submit time off requests in ADP?

When can I submit time off requests?

What are blackout dates?

School Based Faculty: For a variety of reasons, certain days may not be taken as PTO and all school-based employees are strongly encouraged to be at work. These days include the days immediately before/after a holiday, professional development days, NWEA/SBAC testing days, and the first and last month of school. Please see your manager for a complete list of blackout days.
Home Office Faculty: Approval of the blackout days listed above is at the discretion of the manager and depends on the employee’s level of direct service to schools.
Taking time off during blackout days may result in disciplinary action, except to the extent an employee’s leave is protected pursuant to applicable law.

Am I eligible for holiday pay?

To be eligible for pay on observed holidays, you must be a salaried employee in active status the day before and the day after a holiday (i.e., your first day of employment will not be scheduled on a holiday, nor will your last day of employment be scheduled on a holiday).
Generally, when an observed holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed as the holiday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed. For questions about holiday observances, please contact your manager.

You must receive approval from your manager prior to taking planned, unpaid time off. You are always expected to complete the job duties outlined in your job description and failure to do so will lead to a performance review and/or plan

Will I be paid over the summer?

Lead Teachers, Learning Specialists, and Teaching Fellows who are in active status on the last day of school are eligible to receive summer pay. Active status includes both employees who report to work and those who are on approved leave, including unpaid leave. If an employee resigns or is otherwise terminated prior to the end of the school year, they are considered inactive, and do not receive summer pay.
Hourly employees are not eligible for summer pay if their agreement ends on the last day of school

Do I qualify for paid Family Medical leave?

You may qualify for Paid Family Medical Leave.

The Paid Family and Medical Leave program is a mandatory statewide insurance program that provides paid family and medical leave to eligible employees. The program is administered by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Impact is NOT involved in this process.

Should you have any questions or concerns about PFML, please contact their office to speak with them.

If you are asked on the PMFL application, Employer UBI # is 604043956

The application process is below:

Notify your employer at least 30 days before you plan to take leave (if the event is foreseeable)
Experience a qualifying event (click here to learn more about qualifying event)
Apply for leave within 30 days after your qualifying event happens
Receive a determination letter in the mail
Waiting week beings (exceptions: bonding leave or military exigency don't have a waiting week)
File weekly claims to get paid (you may have an unpaid waiting week)

Additional PMFL resources are below:

PFML Checklist
PFML Poster
PFML Benefit Guide
Are You Eligible? Click here to take the quiz.

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School Compensation & Benefits