Understanding PERA

When you work with Scoot, your payroll experience differs from what you might see in Colorado’s public school districts. One key distinction is that you will not be contributing to PERA (the Public Employees’ Retirement Association) during your time with Scoot. This difference affects both your take‑home pay and how Scoot is classified under state requirements.

PERA is Colorado’s retirement system for public employees, including many educators employed directly by school districts. Because Scoot is a private employer, it is not required by the State of Colorado to participate in PERA or make employer contributions to the system.

As a result:

This distinction is especially important if you’ve previously worked in a PERA‑eligible role or are comparing different types of education employment.

Since PERA deductions do not apply to your role at Scoot, your paycheck will not include PERA-related withholding. PERA contributions can be a significant percentage of earnings in public-sector positions, so without those deductions:

This structure gives you more control over your financial planning while working with Scoot.

If you have worked in a PERA‑eligible position before this requirement update or through another employer, your contributions are located in your PERA account. For questions about:

Please contact Colorado PERA directly. They can provide guidance on your account, next steps, and any available options related to your prior service.