Employee Empowerment Initiatives

Employee Empowerment Initiatives

Resources and opportunities for future retirees

Today’s public school employees are tomorrow’s retirees. Supporting current employees helps Michigan retain an experienced workforce, ensuring quality and continuity in classrooms statewide. A stable workforce also strengthens the retirement system! Through these initiatives, MARSP invests in dignified careers that lead to dignified retirements.

Show your support!

Through MARSP, public school retirees and current employees collaborate to impact their communities in direct and tangible ways.

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Why you should join MARSP while you're still working

While you're busy working for Michigan’s students, MARSP is working to protect your future.

As you build your career, the decisions you make today shape your retirement tomorrow. An Associate MARSP membership connects you to trusted guidance, valuable resources, and a strong network working on your behalf. 

With MARSP, the benefits of membership grow with you:

  • Set yourself up for success: Guidance to help you make informed decisions about your future retirement.
  • Grow your career: Grants for professional development and classroom projects that support your work today.
  • Shape your future: Connect with the people making decisions that affect your career and retirement.
  • Practical Guidance: Free tools and resources to assist with retirement planning.
  • Know your options: As you get closer to retirement, our Retirement Planning Seminars offer guidance on eligibility, payout options, insurance coverage, and rules for working after retirement.
  • Make a plan: Resources to help you prepare for the financial and lifestyle changes ahead.
  • Strength in numbers: Your membership increases our influence in Lansing as we work to protect your retirement.
  • Exclusive discounts: Member-only discounts on travel, medical air transport services, life insurance, Dell® and Apple® products, plus many more!
  • Information you can trust: Fact-based, nonpartisan updates and analysis on events impacting public school retirement. This includes a subscription to our award-winning VANGUARD magazine, published quarterly. 
Become an Associate Member

MARSP has one mission: to preserve and protect the retirement income and health benefits earned by public school employees. If you have questions about membership or the information below, call our office at 888-960-4022. A MARSP staff member — not a menu of buttons — will be happy to assist you.

Professional development scholarships

MARSP supports career advancement for public school employees.

In 1995, the MARSP Foundation started a scholarship fund to help make professional development more affordable and accessible for school employees. Scholarships of up to $1,000 are available to all public school employees, no matter their current positions, to support career-advancing education opportunities.

Eligibility for the scholarship:

  • Any current professional or support staff employee of a public school system that reports to MPSERS (Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System)
  • Educational endeavors available from:
    • Four-year degree-granting program institution
    • Community college
    • Technical/vocational institution in Michigan
    • Seminars/workshops from Michigan professional organizations

You can apply anytime between January 1 and March 31. If your application is selected, the scholarship will be applied to the upcoming academic year, July 1–June 30. The scholarship amount is limited to $1,000. Disbursements will be made directly to the institution/professional organization. Please call MARSP with questions: 888.960.4022

Apply online
Print and mail application

Mail applications to MARSP Foundation, P.O. Box 23214, Lansing, MI  48909.

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Retirement Planning Services

As a public school employee, you contribute to your retirement with each paycheck. MARSP is here to help you make informed decisions on your retirement journey.

MARSP’s retirement planning experts present the “MRPS Pension Seminar,” with all the essential information needed to start thinking about retirement. This seminar is available to all public school and community college employees who are members of the MPSERS retirement plan.

Topics include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Pension Options
  • The steps you need to take in order to retire
  • Retirement Planning and how to maximize your pension
  • Your rights as a member of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) retiree
  • Purchasing Service Credit
  • Discover aspects of retirement you may not have considered
  • Answers to questions about retirement

This seminar is guaranteed to be informative for those who are ready to retire AND those who may not be ready for retirement for a few years. Information is presented in a simple, easy-to-understand way and presenters are insightful and realistic about the challenges and rewards of retirement.

Pension Seminar Request
Request more information

DonorsChoose

MARSP supports classroom projects across Michigan.

Each year, the MARSP Foundation funds projects across Michigan through DonorsChoose, a classroom project funding site for public school teachers. Click here to learn more about DonorsChoose, and be sure to share this powerful platform with your colleagues!

Learn More: Classroom Project Funding