Give and receive support.

Check  your membership status!

Under the “Meyers-Milias Brown Act”, RCOE is an “agency fee” organization. The certificated bargaining unit is represented by the Riverside County Office Teachers Association (RCOTA), the California Teachers Association (CTA), and the national Education Association (NEA). As an agency fee organization, certificated employees are not required to belong to the union or association. Members are able to opt out of being a member.

For some, please check your pay warrant under “Voluntary Deductions” column. You will see CTA fees. This shows that you are a member as well as your CTA membership card. Besides all of the many other benefits of membership, probably the most important of those is the free legal representation that members can receive on variety of issues that may arise during the school year. This legal referral is also accepted at the discretion of CTA. We have, over the years, some teachers needing legal help coming to us believing they are members only to find out they are not.

RCOTA member benefits include disability insurance, RCOTA situation representation, legal representation at CTA discretion, and many other services. We are members of both CTA and NEA. Don’t forget you have a $5,000 life insurance benefit so please log into your NEA account and select your beneficiaries. Don’t forget to log into your CTA account for other benefits, retirement information and other pertinent information.

So, if you find out that you are not a member and would like to make sure you are, then please contact our membership chair Maria Haro at [email protected]. She will help complete your application or other issues with your membership/non-membership or you may see us any of your program kick offs or general membership area meeting.  

Do you qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?

On Oct. 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a change to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program rules for a limited time as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. Throughout the emergency, ED has provided a variety of benefits to borrowers.

Now, for a limited time, borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for PSLF. Under the new temporary rules, any prior period of repayment will count as a qualifying payment, regardless of loan program, repayment plan, or whether the payment was made in full or on time. But you do continue to need qualifying employment. Deadline is October 31, 2022.

Contact RCOE’s Loan Forgiveness technician by sending them an email that you would like to apply or submit your yearly paperwork. Send email to: Last Name A-L, Katie Aulakh email is [email protected] Last Name M-Z, Bianca Blankenship email address is [email protected]