what is the teacher retirement system trs 
the teacher retirement system trs is a network of state and city level organizations that collectively administer pensions and retirement accounts for public education employees within their states they also provide educators with help and advice regarding their retirement planning each state organization offers a different array of plans and benefits to its beneficiaries which may include not only teachers but other public education staffers such as maintenance workers janitors and administrators the biggest such systems the california state teachers retirement system the teacher retirement system of texas and the new york state teachers retirement system are among the 10 largest pension plans in the u s 1