This publication is a compilation of summaries of the major legal provisions of state and local retirement systems to which public school teachers belong. The individual summaries were prepared by state and local retirement administrators in accordance with a topical and explanatory outline developed by the National Council on Teacher Retirement. The summaries describe the major provisions of the laws under which the retirement systems operate and give information on financing, administration, social security coverage, examples of retirement benefits paid, and selected statistical data. Although an effort was made to present the data in consistent form, some respondents described the provisions of their system more fully than others. Therefore, readers who wish to compare provisions beyond the general statements provided in the summaries should consult the statutes governing each system. Altogether, summaries are included for 44 state retirement systems and 11 local systems. (Author/JG)