Public Education Is Bigger Than the Classroom
California public education runs on more than classroom teachers. Administrators, classified staff, district office personnel, and other support employees keep schools running - and depending on their role and employer, many of these positions may be covered by CalPERS rather than CalSTRS.
Different Roles, Different Systems
Classified employees, administrators, district office staff, and support personnel may fall under different retirement systems depending on their specific classification and employer. There is no single rule that applies to every non-teaching role, which is exactly why confirming your own situation directly is worthwhile. See our CalSTRS vs. CalPERS guide for the basic distinction between the two systems.
The Same Planning Questions Apply
Whatever system you belong to, the goal of retirement planning is the same: understand your projected pension income, identify whether a gap exists between that income and your retirement needs, and understand your options - including benefit election timing and survivor protection - before you have to make permanent decisions.
Where to Go From Here
If you work in classified service specifically, our classified school employee guide goes into more detail on that role. For a broader look at what a review covers regardless of role, see our public education retirement review page.