N.Y. Education Law § 503: Membership of system

§ 503. Membership of system. 1. The membership of the retirement

system shall consist of the following:

a. All teachers who were teachers on or before the first day of

August, nineteen hundred twenty-one, who shall file with the retirement

board applications for membership, except those specifically excluded

under subdivision four of this section.

b. All teachers who were not teachers on or before the first day of

August, nineteen hundred twenty-one, except those specifically excluded

under subdivision four of this section.

2. The retirement board may, in its discretion, deny the right to

become members to any class of teachers whose compensation is only

partly paid by the employer or who are serving on a temporary or any

other than a per annum basis, and it may also, in its discretion, make

optional with members in any such class their individual entrance into

membership.

3. The membership of any person in the retirement system shall cease

when seven years have elapsed since the member has performed service as

a teacher which was credited with the system except as provided in

section five hundred twelve-a of this article, or upon the withdrawal by

a contributor of his accumulated contributions as provided in this

article, or upon retirement on a pension, or at death, except that the

membership of a teacher, who has not withdrawn his contributions shall

not be cancelled if he (a) has not had sufficient service to be eligible

for disability retirement, and proves to the satisfaction of the

retirement board that absence from service was caused by personal

illness constituting disability or (b) is eligible to receive a

retirement allowance from the system for other than disability.

4. Teachers who are members or who become members of a local district

pension system maintained under the laws of the state from

appropriations or contributions made wholly or partly by an employer

shall be excluded from membership in this retirement system.

5. A retired teacher receiving a retirement allowance for other than

disability may return to active public service. Any such retired teacher

returning to active service shall immediately notify the retirement

board of his intention. Except as otherwise provided in sections two

hundred eleven and two hundred twelve of the retirement and social

security law and section one hundred fifty of the civil service law, his

retirement allowance shall be suspended during the time he is in active

service. If such teacher has not elected an optional benefit, the

payments of his annuity so suspended shall be held in the annuity

reserve fund at regular interest, and upon the resumption of his

retirement allowance after again leaving the active service such

accumulated amounts shall be applied to increase the annuity otherwise

payable to him or in the event of his death while in active service such

accumulated amounts shall be paid to his estate or to such person as

last designated as the beneficiary of his accumulated contributions. If

such teacher has elected an optional benefit and dies while in active

service, the optional benefit in respect of his annuity shall be payable

as if no annuity payments had been suspended, but the optional benefit

in respect of his pension shall not be payable in excess of the

proportion that the cost of such optional pension, when measured by the

difference between his pension without optional modification and the

optional pension, is currently covered by the amount of the annuity

payments suspended while he is in active service, which difference shall

be paid during the period of his active service from the annuity reserve

fund to the fund from which his pension was payable. If, however, such

full cost of the optional pension is greater than the suspended annuity

payments, the teacher may elect upon returning to active service to pay

the amount of such difference directly to the retirement system to be

credited to the fund from which his pension was payable, and subject to

such payments monthly in advance, or at such other intervals as may be

agreed upon with the retirement board, the optional benefit in respect

of the pension shall be payable in the event the teacher dies while in

active service, as if no pension payments had been suspended. If the

suspended annuity payments are greater than such full cost of the

optional pension, the amount of such difference shall be held at regular

interest in the annuity reserve fund, and upon the resumption of his

retirement allowance after again leaving active service such accumulated

amounts shall be applied to increase the annuity otherwise payable to

him, or in the event of his death while in active service such

accumulated amounts shall be paid to his estate or to the beneficiary

nominated under the option.

6. Credit for service in war after world war I, which shall mean

military service during the period commencing the first day of July,

nineteen hundred forty, and terminating the thirtieth day of June,

nineteen hundred forty-seven, or during the period commencing the

twenty-seventh day of June, nineteen hundred fifty, and terminating the

thirty-first day of January, nineteen hundred fifty-five, or during both

such periods, as a member of the armed forces of the United States, of

any person who (i) has been honorably discharged or released under

honorable circumstances from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying

condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and

has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from

such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in

section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge

other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or service by

one who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or Office of

Defense Transportation or their agents as a merchant seaman documented

by the United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a

civil servant employed by the United States Army Transport Service

(later redesignated as the United States Army Transportation Corps,

Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who served

satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed conflict,

December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth,

nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing,

i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such terms are

defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further to include

"near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, Mexico, or

the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in oceangoing

service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of Release

or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an

Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of

Defense or who served as a United States civilian employed by the

American Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies

and United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed

conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May

eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and (iv) who was discharged or

released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying

condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and

has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from

such service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in

section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge

other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or who served

as a United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support

Employee of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its

affiliates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract

with Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the

period of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred

forty-one through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and

who (vii) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable

conditions, or (viii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section

one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other

than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (ix) is a

discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans'

services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or

dishonorable from such service, and who was a teacher in the public

schools of this state at the time of his or her entrance into the armed

forces of the United States, provided no compensation was received under

the provisions of section two hundred forty-two of the military law, and

who returned to public school teaching following discharge or completion

of advanced education provided under servicemen's readjustment act of

nineteen hundred forty-four, or who following such discharge or release

entered into a service which would qualify him or her pursuant to

section forty-three of the retirement and social security law to

transfer his or her membership in the New York state teachers'

retirement system, shall be provided as follows, any provisions of

section two hundred forty-three of the military law to the contrary

notwithstanding.

(a) Service in war after world war I as defined in this subdivision

shall be deemed to be service for all purposes of the retirement fund,

provided claim for such service shall be filed by the member with the

retirement board within two years following his return to active

teaching service or the entry of the member into a service which would

qualify him pursuant to section fifty-nine of the civil service law to

transfer his membership to the New York city employees' retirement

system or to the New York state employees' retirement system or the

fifteenth day of April, nineteen hundred sixty-seven, whichever is

later.

(b) For the purposes of computing final average salary, compensation

during any period of service in war after world war I shall be deemed to

have been at the member's rate of compensation in effect immediately

prior to such period, or based on additional increments due him if he

had continued teaching.

(c) Contributions paid by any member under the provisions of section

two hundred forty-three of the military law shall be refunded directly

to the member and the corresponding contribution paid by the district

shall also be returned directly to the district.

(d) On the retirement of a member with credit for service in war after

world war I as defined in this subdivision, there shall be transferred

from the pension accumulation fund to the annuity reserve fund a sum

equivalent to the contributions the member would have made to the

annuity savings fund had he contributed during his period of service in

war after world war I at the rate in effect immediately prior to such

period, or on additional increments due him if he had continued

teaching, with interest to the date of retirement, which amounts shall

be used to provide an annuity for him.

(e) In addition to the contributions required of employers to the

retirement system as otherwise provided, there shall be paid an

additional contribution to the pension accumulation fund to cover the

cost of the additional benefits covered by this subdivision. The

additional contributions shall be collected by increasing the regular

contributions of the employers in the same proportion as the liabilities

of the pension accumulation fund are increased by the adoption of this

subdivision.

7. A teacher, who was a member of the New York state teachers

retirement system but who withdrew his or her accumulated contributions

immediately prior to his or her entry into, or during his or her service

in the armed forces of the United States in war after World War I, who

(i) has been honorably discharged or released from service, or (ii) has

a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans'

services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or

dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran,

as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has

received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such

service, provided no compensation was received under the provisions of

section two hundred forty-two of the military law, and who returned to

public school teaching in the state of New York following such discharge

or release, or following completion of advanced education provided under

servicemen's readjustment act of nineteen hundred forty-four, any

provisions of section two hundred forty-three of the military law to the

contrary notwithstanding, will be entitled to credit for service in war

after World War I, cost free, provided, however, that such credit will

not be allowed until he or she claims and pays for all prior teaching

service credited to him or her at the time of his or her termination of

membership in the New York state teachers retirement system, and

provided further that claim for such service in war after World War I

shall be filed by the member with the retirement board before the first

day of July, nineteen hundred sixty-eight.

8. A teacher who had been granted credit for service in war after

world war I as provided in this section and whose membership in the New

York state teachers retirement system subsequently ceased by reason of

withdrawal of his accumulated contributions will, upon rejoining the New

York state teachers retirement system, be entitled to the same credit

for service in war after world war I, cost free, that he was credited

with upon termination of his membership in the New York state teachers

retirement system, provided, however, that such credit will not be

allowed until he claims and pays for all prior teaching service credited

to him at the time of his termination of membership in the New York

state teachers retirement system.

9. Credit for emergency service on or after October first, nineteen

hundred sixty-one, shall mean active duty (other than for training) in

the armed forces of the United States as defined in title ten of the

United States code on or after October first, nineteen hundred sixty-one

and terminating on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty-three or on

the date that no reserve component unit originally ordered into the

active service of the United States from the state on or after October

first, nineteen hundred sixty-one remains on such active service,

whichever sooner occurs, of any person who:

a. was a teacher in the public schools of this state at the time of

his entrance into such armed forces,

b. was a member of the New York state teachers' retirement system and

an employee of the state or of an employer at the time he entered such

armed forces,

c. (i) has been honorably discharged or released under honorable

circumstances from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as

defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a

discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or

(iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the

veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad

conduct or dishonorable from such service, and

d. returned to public school teaching within one year following

discharge or release, or completion of advanced education provided by

the United States for education of Korean conflict veterans, or who

following such discharge or release entered into a service which would

qualify him, pursuant to section forty-three of the retirement and

social security law, to transfer his membership in the New York state

teachers retirement system. Such service shall not include any periods

during which compensation was received by the member for accrued

vacation and overtime credit or under the provisions of section two

hundred forty-two of the military law or section six of chapter six

hundred eight of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty-two.

Emergency service on or after October first, nineteen hundred

sixty-one, shall for the purposes of this article be deemed credit for

service in war after world war I.

10. Credit for certain World War II service. a. In addition to credit

for military service pursuant to section two hundred forty-three of the

military law and subdivisions six through nine of this section, a member

employed as a full-time teacher by an employer as defined in subdivision

three of section five hundred one of this article and who joined the

retirement system prior to July first, nineteen hundred seventy-three,

may obtain credit for military service not in excess of three years and

not otherwise creditable under section two hundred forty-three of the

military law and subdivisions six through nine of this section, rendered

on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during the

period commencing July first, nineteen hundred forty, and terminating

December thirty-first, nineteen hundred forty-six, or on service by one

who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense

Transportation or their agents as a merchant seaman documented by the

United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil

servant employed by the United States Army Transport Service (later

redesignated as the United States Army Transportation Corps, Water

Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who served

satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed conflict,

December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth,

nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing,

i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such terms are

defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further to include

"near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, Mexico, or

the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in oceangoing

service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of Release

or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an

Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of

Defense or on service by one who served as a United States civilian

employed by the American Field Service and served overseas under United

States Armies and United States Army Groups in world war II during the

period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one

through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was

discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has

a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans'

services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or

dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran,

as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has

received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such

service, or on service by one who served as a United States civilian

Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World

Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas

as a result of Pan American's contract with Air Transport Command or

Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed conflict,

December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August

fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was discharged or

released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying

condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and

has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from

such service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in

section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge

other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, by a person

who was a resident of New York state at the time of entry into such

service and at the time of being discharged therefrom under honorable

circumstances, and who makes the payments required in accordance with

the provisions of this subdivision.

However, no military service shall be creditable under this

subdivision in the case of a member who is receiving a military pension

(other than for disability) for military service in the armed forces of

the United States.

b. To obtain such credit a member shall: (1) deposit in the annuity

savings fund a sum equal to the product of his required contribution

rate at time of entry into full-time New York state teaching service,

his annual full-time rate of compensation at that time, and the period

of military service being claimed, with regular interest, and (2)

deposit in the pension accumulation fund a sum equal to the product of

the employer's contribution rate exclusive of the rate for supplemental

pensions at the time of the member's entry into such teaching service,

his annual full-time rate of compensation at that time, and the period

of military service being claimed, with regular interest. Such deposit

must be made on or before October fourteenth, nineteen hundred

seventy-seven, provided, however, such member may elect to deposit such

amount over a period of time no greater than the period for which credit

is being claimed, in which case such payments must commence no later

than October fourteenth, nineteen hundred seventy-seven. If the full

amount of such payments is not paid to the retirement system at the time

of retirement, the amount of service credited shall be proportional to

the total amount of the payments made.

c. The credit for military service hereunder shall not be used to

increase a service retirement benefit if, at the time of retirement,

such member (1) is retiring from service with less than ten years of

full-time service credit or (2) is retiring with less than three years

of member service rendered subsequent to the date that he last became a

member of this system. Upon retirement, as specified in (1) or (2),

there shall be refunded to such member the amount of such deposit plus

accrued interest exclusive of the amount deposited to the pension

accumulation fund attributable to death and disability benefits.

d. (1) In the case of members who have transferred into this system

from another public retirement system within the state of New York,

their rate of contribution shall be computed as though they had been a

member of this system from the date of membership in the retirement

system from which they transferred.

(2) Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the

rate of contribution to be used in calculating contributions to the

annuity savings fund pursuant to this subdivision shall be at the rate

of four per centum of earnable compensation for members whose date of

membership is on or before June thirtieth, nineteen hundred forty-eight

and at the rate of five per centum of earnable compensation for members

whose date of membership is on or after July first, nineteen hundred

forty-eight.

e. In no event shall credit be granted pursuant to this subdivision if

credit is granted for the same period of time pursuant to other

provisions of law.

f. No application for credit pursuant to the provisions of this

subdivision shall be honored if made on or after April fifteenth,

nineteen hundred seventy-seven.

10-a. Credit for certain World War II service. a. In addition to

credit for military service pursuant to section two hundred forty-three

of the military law and subdivisions six through nine of this section, a

member who joined the retirement system prior to July first, nineteen

hundred seventy-three, and who was not eligible for credit for military

service under subdivision ten of this section as a result of being on a

leave of absence without pay between July twentieth, nineteen hundred

seventy-six and October fifteenth, nineteen hundred seventy-seven or on

leave of absence with less than full pay between July twentieth,

nineteen hundred seventy-six and October fifteenth, nineteen hundred

seventy-seven, may obtain credit for military service not in excess of

three years and not otherwise creditable under section two hundred

forty-three of the military law and subdivisions six through nine of

this section, rendered on active duty in the armed forces of the United

States during the period commencing July first, nineteen hundred forty,

and terminating December thirty-first, nineteen hundred forty-six, or on

service by one who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or

Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a merchant seaman

documented by the United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce,

or as a civil servant employed by the United States Army Transport

Service (later redesignated as the United States Army Transportation

Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who

served satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed

conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August

fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in

oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such

terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further

to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada,

Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in

oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate

of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or

an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department

of Defense, or on service by one who served as a United States civilian

employed by the American Field Service and served overseas under United

States Armies and United States Army Groups in world war II during the

period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one

through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was

discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has

a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans'

services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or

dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran,

as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has

received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such

service, or on service by one who served as a United States civilian

Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World

Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas

as a result of Pan American's contract with Air Transport Command or

Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed conflict,

December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August

fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was discharged or

released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying

condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and

has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from

such service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in

section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge

other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, by a person

who was a resident of New York state at the time of entry into such

service and at the time of being discharged therefrom under honorable

circumstances, and who makes the payments required in accordance with

the provisions of this subdivision.

However, no military service shall be creditable under this

subdivision in the case of a member who is receiving a military pension

(other than for disability) for military service in the armed forces of

the United States.

b. To obtain such credit a member shall: (1) deposit in the annuity

savings fund a sum equal to the product of his required contribution

rate at time of entry into full-time New York state teaching service,

his annual full-time rate of compensation at that time, and the period

of military service being claimed, with regular interest, and (2)

deposit in the pension accumulation fund a sum equal to the product of

the employer's contribution rate exclusive of the rate for supplemental

pensions at the time of the member's entry into such teaching service,

his annual full-time rate of compensation at that time, and the period

of military service being claimed, with regular interest. Such deposit

must be made on or before October fourteenth, nineteen hundred eighty,

provided, however, such member may elect to deposit such amount over a

period of time no greater than the period for which credit is being

claimed, in which case such payments must commence no later than October

fourteenth, nineteen hundred eighty. If the full amount of such payments

is not paid to the retirement system at the time of retirement, the

amount of service credited shall be proportional to the total amount of

the payments made.

c. The credit for military service hereunder shall not be used to

increase a service retirement benefit if, at the time of retirement,

such member (1) is retiring from service with less than ten years of

full-time service credit or (2) is retiring with less than three years

of member service rendered subsequent to the date that he last became a

member of this system. Upon retirement, as specified in (1) or (2),

there shall be refunded to such member the amount of such deposit plus

accrued interest exclusive of the amount deposited to the pension

accumulation fund attributable to death and disability benefits.

d. (1) In the case of members who have transferred into this system

from another public retirement system within the state of New York,

their rate of contribution shall be computed as though they had been a

member of this system from the date of membership in the retirement

system from which they transferred.

(2) Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the

rate of contribution to be used in calculating contributions to the

annuity savings fund pursuant to this subdivision shall be at the rate

of four per centum of earnable compensation for members whose date of

membership is on or before June thirtieth, nineteen hundred forty-eight

and at the rate of five per centum of earnable compensation for members

whose date of membership is on or after July first, nineteen hundred

forty-eight.

e. In no event shall credit be granted pursuant to this subdivision if

credit is granted for the same period of time pursuant to other

provisions of law.

f. No application for credit pursuant to the provisions of this

subdivision shall be honored if made on or after October fifteenth,

nineteen hundred eighty.

11. a. If a retired member, receiving a retirement allowance for other

than disability, returns to active public service, except as otherwise

provided in sections two hundred eleven or two hundred twelve of the

retirement and social security law, and is eligible for membership in

the retirement system, such employee shall become a member and their

retirement allowance shall be suspended in the same manner as provided

in subdivision five of this section. Upon subsequent retirement such

employee shall:

1. Be credited with all member service earned since they last became a

member of the retirement system, and

2. Receive a retirement allowance which shall consist of the pension

which such employee was receiving immediately prior to the last

restoration to membership as provided in subdivision five of this

section, plus a pension based upon the service credit earned since such

employee last became a member. Such latter pension shall be computed as

if they were a new member when they rejoined the system pursuant to the

provisions of this subdivision.

b. Where such member shall have earned at least two years of service

credit after restoration to active service, the total service credit to

which such member was entitled at the time of the earlier retirement

may, at their option, again be credited to them and upon subsequent

retirement such member shall be credited in addition for purposes of

computation of the pension portion of the retirement allowance with all

service credit earned subsequent to the last restoration to membership.

Such total service credit to which such member was entitled at the time

of the earlier retirement shall be so credited only in the event that

such member returns to the retirement system with regular interest the

actuarial equivalent of the amount of the pension received, or in the

event that such amount is not so repaid the actuarial equivalent thereof

shall be deducted from such member's subsequent retirement allowance.

c. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subdivision, a

retired member who is receiving a retirement allowance for other than

physical disability, and who returns to active public service, may elect

not to be restored to membership in the retirement system until such

retired member has rendered one year of service following their return

to public service. In such event the retirement allowance shall be

suspended during such year of service in the same manner as provided in

subdivision five of this section. Upon restoration to membership

following completion of such year of service, service in such year shall

be deemed to be service while a member for purposes of subdivision b of

section five hundred twelve of this article. Such retired member may

purchase service credit for such year, which shall be deemed earned

service credit. If a retired member receiving a retirement benefit

allowance for other than physical disability, returns to active public

service, and is then ineligible for membership in the retirement system,

the retirement allowance shall be suspended in the same manner as

provided in this section.

d. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a retired

member who rejoins the system under the provisions of this subdivision

shall only be entitled to a death benefit according to the provisions of

paragraph two of subdivision b of section five hundred twelve of this

article and of no other subdivision thereof and for the purposes of such

paragraph two of subdivision b of section five hundred twelve the

credited service as a teacher shall be service as a teacher credited

since last joining the system.