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HomeEducation CodeCh. 5Art. 1§ 89516 Part-Time Work Retirement Rules

§ 89516 Part-Time Work Retirement Rules

Education Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 89516 Part-Time Work Retirement Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •Teachers, librarians, counselors, and student affairs officers can switch from full-time to part-time work but keep their retirement benefits if they follow certain rules.
  • •To qualify, you must be at least 55 years old and have worked full-time for at least 10 years, with the last 5 years being full-time without breaks (except for approved leaves like sabbaticals).
  • •You can only switch to part-time if you ask for it, and you can’t be forced to go back to full-time unless both you and your boss agree.
  • •Your pay will be a portion of your full-time salary based on how many hours you work, but you keep all your other benefits like health insurance.

Example

A 56-year-old college professor who has worked full-time for 12 years wants to work part-time but keep her retirement and health benefits.

She can ask to switch to part-time because she meets the age and work experience rules. Her pay will be less, but she keeps her benefits.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 89516 Part-Time Work Retirement Rules

The trustees may establish rules and regulations which allow academic teaching employees, librarians, counselors, and student affairs officers to reduce their workload from full-time to part-time duties. Such regulations shall include but shall not be limited to the following if such employees wish to reduce their workload and maintain retirement benefits pursuant to Section 20815 of the Government Code: (a) The employee must have reached the age of 55 prior to reduction in workload. (b) The employee must have been employed full-time as an academic employee for at least 10 years of which the immediately preceding five years were full-time employment. For purposes of this subdivision, sabbatical and other approved leaves shall not constitute a break in service. However, time spent on sabbatical or on other approved leaves shall not be used in satisfying the five-year full-time employment requirement. (c) The option of part-time employment must be exercised at the request of the employee and can be revoked only with the mutual consent of the employer and the employee. (d) The employee shall be paid a salary which is the pro rata share of the salary the employee would be earning had the employee not elected to exercise the option of part-time employment but shall retain all other rights and benefits for which the employee makes the payments that would be required if the employee remained in full-time employment. The employee shall receive health benefits in the same manner as a full-time employee. This section shall only be applicable to academic teaching employees, librarians, counselors, and student affairs officers who receive no higher salary than the maximum paid to a department chairman. If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act. (Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1072.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

employmentretirementbenefitsschoolhealthemployeeemployersalary

Related Statutes

  • § 88038 Classified Employee Part-Time Work
  • § 45107 Federal Emergency Employment Funds
  • § 45196 Employee Sick Leave Deductions
  • § 45202 Employee Sick Leave Transfer
  • § 89529.22 Disability Benefits Deductions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Education Code. Section 89516.
View Official Source