Frequently Asked Questions for International Teachers

 
 

  • What are the required qualifications to be a teacher at CPS?

    • Interested teachers must hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Education in order to receive a teaching license in the state of Illinois. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is the state entity that issues teaching licenses in Illinois and our program staff can provide guidance on this process. If you would like to apply for a teaching license in advance of the interview process, you can find more information on ISBE's website here.

  • What health benefits are offered to Visiting International Teachers?

    • CPS International Teachers (J1 Visa) are eligible to enroll in the BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois BlueAdvantage Health Maintenance Organization (HMO ) Plan. There is no annual deductible on the HMO plan. The costs for full-time union employees is as follows:

    • - Employee Only: 2.75% of annual salary

    • - Employee +1: 2.95% of annual salary

    • - Family: 3.25% of annual salary

  • What are the costs of living in Chicago?

    • We have highlighted important information on various costs and estimates for teachers that are looking to join CPS and move to Chicago. A cost of living calculator can be used as an additional resource.

  • What is the expected pay for International Teachers and are there any paycheck deductions?

    • Teacher pay is determined based on the level of education (lane) and years of teaching experience (step). CPS provides a salary calculator that shares an estimated salary and will honor up to 7 years of teaching experience for new teachers joining the district. There are some taxes and deductions for international teachers. There will be Illinois and federal taxes deducted from each paycheck and international teachers are exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes.

  • Does CPS sponsor teachers in other visa categories?

    • At this time, CPS is not initiating new sponsorship cases outside the J-1 visa category. If you have additional questions, email our team at internationalteacher@cps.edu.

    • If a sponsored teacher resigns from CPS, they are ineligible for future sponsorship.

  • ~accord

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