2026 ACSA Personnel Institute

Changing laws and regulations have altered CalSTRS’ and CalPERS’ views on reportable compensation, salary schedules, and spiking. CalPERS and CalSTRS have strictly applied the law and regulations when reviewing contract language in employment agreements, collective bargaining agreements and salary schedules. This session will provide guidance on the requirements, offer tips and pointers, and provide best practices to help you avoid audit findings of misreported compensation.

Key Takeaways:
(1) More knowledge about CalSTRS and CalPERS requirements, audits and consequences for districts;
(2) Learn how to comply with such requirements in employment agreements and collective bargaining agreements; and
(3) Learn how to help the governing board comply with related Brown Act requirements.

It has been noted that “entry into the Education Code is painful” and “large parts of the Education Code are not meant to be understood” – and this was the California Court of Appeal speaking. This session will break down the otherwise indecipherable provisions of the Education Code as it relates to the fundamental rules of certificated and classified employment. Targeted for both emerging and advanced HR practitioners, we will cover fundamentals such as how the Education Code establishes the certificated and classified services, as well as advanced scenarios, such as the subtle yet significant distinctions in how the Education Code treats topics such as employee classifications, leaves of absences, seniority, permanent status, rehire rights, layoffs, and bumping with respect to certificated and classified personnel, as well as the interplay between Education Code rights and the collective bargaining process.

School HR leaders are managing increasingly complex accommodation requests involving mental health, leaves, remote work, attendance, and employee performance concerns. Through real-world scenarios and interactive discussion, this session explores practical approaches to Interactive Process facilitation, documentation, and communication that help districts navigate difficult situations while maintaining compliance and operational effectiveness.

If you are buried in complaints, you are not alone. Complaints in the forms of UCPs, Complaints Against Employees, Sexual Harassment, and others have become common and at times, overwhelming. If your department is having a hard time managing the time demands, this session is for you. We will review the most common complaint types, critical tasks, and tips of the trade for streamlining your processes.