Teacher Benefits

This is a brief summary of Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) teacher benefits. This summary is an example of our benefits and is not intended as a full description. BCPSS reserves the right to eliminate, modify or interpret any of the benefit plans described herein at any time.

Bonuses:

Note: The documents below require Adobe Acrobat Reasder. Click Here to Download a free copy

BCPSS Teacher Stipends (94KB) - An overview of the guidelines and stipends available for BCPSS teachers.

Signing Bonus Obligation Form (78KB)

Tuition Tax Credits:

All Maryland teachers are eligible for an annual $1,500 tuition tax credit designed to offset graduate tuition expenses necessary to maintain teaching certification. This tax credit was made law with Tax Article §10-717 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Health Insurance:

The BCPSS pays 75 percent to 100 percent of the premium in accordance with the plan selected by the employee. Available plans/HMO's include:

Pension System:

Tax Sheltered Annuity Program 403 (b):

• ING
• New York Life
• Copeland
• Lincoln Financial Advisor
• Franklin Life
• Security First Group
• VALIC
  

Tuition Reimbursement:

For selected critical subject areas – up to 100% tuition reimbursemen

Up to and including Master’s Degree — 75% tuition reimbursement

Beyond the Master’s Degree — 50% tuition reimbursement.

Reimbursement is paid for courses taken by teachers up to and including twelve (12) credits per school year in an educational field or an approved related field.

There are many colleges and universities in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. Colleges and universities in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area include: Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College in Maryland, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Towson University, Coppin State College, Morgan State University, Goucher College, Sojourner-Douglass College, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Baltimore and McDaniel College. Colleges and universities in the Washington D.C. area include: University of Maryland College Park, George Washington University, Georgetown University, American University, Catholic University, Howard University, Trinity College and the University of the District of Columbia

Student Loan Repayment:

Teachers may be eligible for loan forgiveness or cancellation if they teach in the BCPSS and have one of the following type loans:

Federal Perkins Loans

If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, you may be eligible for loan cancellation for full-time teaching.

For additional information go to: www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/repayment/teachers/perkins/html

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)/William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan(Direct Loan)

If you have a FFEL or Direct Loan, you may be eligible for deferment if you are teaching full time in a teacher shortage area. The FFEL Program comprises Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans, and loans offered in earlier years through the Guaranteed Student Loan Program. The Direct Loan Program comprises Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and Federal Direct Consolidation Loans. If you took out your first Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan after October 1,1998, you may be eligible for cancellation for teacher service.
For more information about targeted teaching deferments for the FFEL Program, consult your loan promissory note and contact the organization holding your loan. Direct Loan borrowers should contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1-800-848-0979.

Baltimore Home Ownership Partnership:

This program reopened in August 2001. It is a deferred loan payment of up to $3,000. New teachers hired by BCPSS must show their employment contract for eligibility. Buyer must contribute $1,000 toward purchase. This loan is reduced 20% for each year of occupancy. A release is provided at the end of the fifth year and the employee has no further obligation for repayment to the city.This program is dependent upon available program funding. Contact Deborah Braxton (410) 396-3124.

Teacher Next Door Program:

The Housing and Urban Development Department launched the "Teacher Next Door" Program to encourage teachers to live and work in urban school districts by offering them half-price homes. Teachers must agree to live in the home purchased through Teacher Next Door as their sole residence for at least three years. They also must not own any other residential property during this time. The program sells homes to qualified teachers for 50% of their list price. Homes must be located in a HUD-designated revitalization area. For a brochure call 800-483-7342 or visit www.hud.gov

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

The BCPSS Provides free, confidential, professional assessment and referral assistance for employees and family members experiencing personal problems that may be affecting work performance, job satisfaction, personal issues or overall quality of life