Opting Into the System
Overview
All teachers and student services professionals (SSPs) who are covered by the DCTA bargaining agreement are eligible to join ProComp. Membership in DCTA is not a requirement. Teachers and SSPs hired after January 1, 2006, automatically are placed in ProComp when they begin work at DPS. They do not need to go through the opt-in process. Only educators who were employed by the district before January 1, 2006, can choose when to join ProComp. Joining the system is not a requirement of these existing teachers.
The opt-in procedure is intended to give teachers and SSPs ample opportunity to decide if they want to become part of ProComp or if they would rather remain in the traditional salary system until their retirement or until they leave DPS. This enables all teachers who were part of that previous pay system to determine the best time to join ProComp, if at all, over the course of their DPS career.
The last opportunity to join ProComp is during the opt-in window held during 2010-2011 contract year. Educators who join then will be placed in ProComp beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
A personal opt-in salary estimator has been designed to help educators decide if their earnings potential improves under the new system or if they might achieve more favorable salary results by remaining on the old salary schedule. Some veteran teachers and SSPs may find that they benefit more by waiting to opt into ProComp.
ProComp will run concurrently with the traditional salary system that will remain in effect until the last teacher in it retires, leaves DPS or chooses to join ProComp.
Opt In Dates
Teachers and SSPs have a total of seven opt-in windows over a total of six years to opt into ProComp. The first two opt-in windows were held during the 2005-2006 contract year. Beginning with the third opt-in window, educators will have approximately six months to assess and decide whether to join ProComp for the following contract year.
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Opt In Windows |
Placed into ProComp |
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1. Nov. 11 - Dec. 31, 2005 |
2005-2006 contract year |
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2. Feb. 1 - March 31, 2006 |
2006-2007 contract year |
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3. Dec. 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007 |
2007-2008 contract year |
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4. Nov. 1, 2007- June 30, 2008 |
2008-2009 contract year |
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5. Nov. 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 |
2009-2010 contract year |
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6. Nov. 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 |
2010-2011 contract year |
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7. Nov. 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 |
2011-2012 contract year |
Salary Placement and Opt-In Procedures for Existing Educators
The ProComp salary plan was designed to ensure that DPS teachers and student services professionals will not lose any income by choosing to move from the traditional salary schedule into the new salary system. Although educators who join ProComp forego step and lane increases, as well as longevity, they gain the opportunity to earn money through ProComp’s four main components.
Under the ProComp agreement, the initial salary for existing DPS teachers will be their current rate of salary under the Master Agreement. Before going into ProComp, educators will attend a salary setting meeting to discuss the comparative advantages of remaining on the salary grid or joining ProComp.
Existing educators are able to join ProComp during one of the seven annual opt-in windows. Sometime during that period, they must have a face-to-face meeting with a Human Resources representative. This personalized approach is designed to accomplish two very important goals: 1.) Address any questions or concerns; and 2.) establish an accurate starting salary under ProComp. To schedule a salary-setting meeting, call 720-423-3900.
Annual salary in ProComp builds from the entry point forward after the initial salary has been set. Cost-of-living increases are given to ProComp members when DPS and DCTA negotiate the Master Agreement.
Educators who are interested in joining ProComp also are encouraged to visit the Personal Opt-In Estimator. Using information provided by each individual, the computerized program provides a rough estimate of an educator’s projected earnings for the first year or over time. The calculator is a helpful tool to compare earnings under the traditional salary system to those possible under ProComp. These projections are considered to be broad estimates only, and actual future income amounts will depend on many factors and contingencies.
Once an educator has had a salary-setting meeting, he or she completes the opt-in process on-line. This final step must be completed before midnight on the last day of the opt-in window. Once an educator has joined ProComp, he or she has a 72-hour window to revoke the decision. When the 72-hour window ends, the educator is officially part of ProComp and cannot go back to the traditional system at any point in the future. An educator who rescinds the original choice to opt-in within 72 hours must wait until the next year’s opt-in window to join again.
Salary Placement for Incoming Educators
Teachers hired into DPS for the first time after January 1, 2006, automatically are placed into the ProComp salary system. The starting salary for first-time teachers is based on their education and experience. Those with a bachelor’s degree receive the base salary in the traditional system. The starting salary for teachers with experience is the same as it would be under the traditional salary system and is based on level of education and years of experience.