Does the task of understanding that salary schedule seem a little daunting? Have no fear. Help is on the way! Actually, it's not as difficult as it looks. To figure out how much you will be paid, you need to find your correct Step and Range.

STEP: The column along the left margin of the salary schedule marked Step designates your years of experience as a full-time certificated employee in a K-12 setting. That means that college/university experience does not count, but private school does count as long as you held a credential or permit at the time. You must have worked for at least 75% of the days in a given school year to qualify for a year of experience credit.

If you are just starting out, you will be on Step 1. If you have previous years of experience as defined above, the district will accept up to a maximum of 10 years of transferable credit. During the hiring process, you will be given a form to send to former employer(s) to verify your past experience.

RANGE: The top row marked Range 1-6 pertains to the number of university upper division and graduate units you have completed after your first BA/BS degree at an accredited university. Lower division units do not count.

If you have earned an MA/MS degree, you will see that it takes fewer units to reach Ranges 3-6. For example, with a masters degree it only takes 30 units above your BA to reach Range 4, but it takes 45 units without the masters.

You cannot advance to Range 3 or above unless you have a credential. If you are working on a Waiver, Emergency, Pre-Intern Permit or Intern Credential, you cannot move above Range 2.

OK, are you ready to try it? Let's say that I have six years of full-time teaching experience, but two of those years were in private school where I taught without a credential. The remaining four years I taught in both public and private schools with a credential. In which Step will I be placed? ANSWER: I will receive no credit for the two years of teaching without a credential, but the four years with a credential will be counted. I will begin next school year on Step 5.

Now for the Range. I have 43 upper division and graduate units with an MA. That will place me in Range 4, and I only need two more units to reach Range 5, so I'm going to get busy and complete those units right away! When I do, I will make sure that I inform my technician in the Personnel Office right away. Units reported by November 1 will be credited for that year's salary. Anything after November 1 will be credited starting next year.

Now you're an expert, right? If you still have questions, please call Maria Woodward at (510) 620-2221.