For the past two decades pension funds, and more specifically teacher pension funds, have experienced a rapid growth and an increased importance in the national and regional economies of the United States. The primary purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive examination of the legislative changes in the 50 state teacher retirement systems and the h relationship of these changes with selected state demographic variables over the fifteen-year period of time from July 1, 1969, to June 30, 1984.

The research questions that guided this study were: 1) What are the existing characteristics of the 50 states; teachers retirement systems and selected state demographic variables? 2) What are the changes over a 15-year period of time of the 50 states; teacher retirement systems and selected state demographic variables? 3) What are the projected changes in the 50 teacher retirement systems? 4) What are the relationships between the following pairs of variables; a) change in retirement systems and change in state . variables, b) change in state variables and projected change in retirement systems, c) changes in retirement systems and projected changes in retirement systems, d) current retirement systems and projected change in retirement systems, and e) current demographic variables and projected changes in retirement systems?

A survey instrument, designed to statistically explore the relationship of selected demographic characteristics with legislative changes in the 50 teacher retirement systems, over the fifteen-year period of time was administered nationally. The population for this study was the 50 state teacher retirement systems. Selected individuals representing systems were surveyed for specific factual information. The rate response from the 50 states was 100%. Statistical methods used to classify and summarize the numerical data were cross-tabulations and frequencies. Pearson r and Spearman Rho correlation statistics were used to determine relationships between pairs of variables.