Visiting International Teachers

 Join us as a Visiting International Teacher

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! Our district supports students from all over the world and we believe it’s important to provide exposure to new cultures so our students can be prepared as global citizens.

CPS is seeking outstanding teachers from around the globe to provide high-quality teacher services across the following content areas: Special Education, Bilingual, World Language, Math, and Science. Teachers of other content areas who can bring unique perspectives and cross-cultural programming are also welcome to apply. Through partnerships with government agencies, Education and Culture Ministries and universities, our team recruits, screens, sponsors, and employs teachers on a J-1 visa for 3 academic years.

CPS is a designated visa sponsor and also partners with additional agencies to recruit high need content area teachers. We recommend interested teachers become familiar with the agency and any requirements/fees they may require. While we would love to have teachers from every part of the world, we are unable to connect with all countries and candidates. If you do not see your home country listed below, here is a list of all designated sponsors who you may be interested in reaching out to.

Listed here are organizations you should connect with for the following countries:

• Philippines: Trades and Professions

• Spain: Ministerio De Educacion y Formacion Profesional

• France: Jules-Verne Program

• Central/Latin America: Intrax

We recommend you get in contact with the above organizations between September and November.

The following documents are required in order to qualify as a Visiting International Teacher at Chicago Public Schools.

• Updated Professional Teaching Resume

• Copy of passport photo page

• Teaching Certificate or License from your home country

• Foreign Credential Evaluation- For a list of approved evaluation sources, please review the list provided by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

• Language Proficiency Exam Results (TOEFL iBT or Cambridge) or Documentation of English as Mode of Instruction

• Submit Form 83-92B to request a Temporary Social Security Number from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)

Interested teachers should plan to gather all of these documents before December in order to qualify for interviews.

CPS conducts intensive interviews to ensure that interested teachers will be successful in our school district. The interview process may require the following: in person interview, demonstration lesson, and/or written interview component. The partner agency designated to your home country would have more information of what the interview process will look like.

Interviews for our program take place between January - March of each year.

If you have questions about the interview process or your scheduled interview, please contact internationalteacher@cps.edu.

Have a specific question?

Send it over.

Frequently Asked Questions for International Teachers

• Do I need to have an education degree to interview as a Visiting International Teacher?

  • Interested teachers must hold a bachelors or masters degree in Education in order to receive a teaching license in the state of Illinois. More information on licensure requirements may be found 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% annual salary

  • -Employee +1: 2.2% annual salary

  • -Family: 2.5% annual salary

• What are the costs of living in Chicago?

  • We have highlighted a few living expenses that are important to note as teachers look to join CPS and move to Chicago. Additional information on various costs and estimates in Chicago can be found here. A cost of living calculator can be found here as an additional resource.

  • The average cost of groceries in Chicago for 1 person ranges from $300-$358/month. There are several grocery stores in Chicago that have varying price points. For example, some teachers choose to get groceries delivered for convenience and would result in a slightly higher monthly cost.

  • The average rent for an apartment in Chicago varies greatly on several factors such as the size of the apartment (sq ft), number of bedrooms, neighborhood, and any amenities included. A two bedroom, two bathroom apartment ranges in monthly rent cost from $1,000 - $3,200. The majority of our international teachers live with other international teachers from their cohort year and divide rent costs. For example, 4 teachers may share a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment and split rent. We’ve listed out additional rent prices in different neighborhoods in this resource.

  • Chicago has a robust public transportation system and some of our schools are easily accessible via the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses and trains. Currently, the cost for a 30 day unlimited pass is $75. Additional cost breakdowns for different passes can be found here. Some teachers choose to purchase a vehicle and monthly costs for a used car range from $500-$1,000 (insurance, registrations, gas, preventative maintenance).

• What is the expected pay for International Teachers and any 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.

• Are there any paycheck deductions for International Teachers?

  • For international teachers, there are some taxes and deductions that must be paid and some taxes they are exempt from. In particular, international teachers are exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes. Included below are tax deduction amounts and ranges.

  • -Illinois net income is taxed at 4.95% flat rate.

  • -There are various federal tax brackets for employees that are determined by their filing status and income. For teachers on a J1 visa, the federal tax deduction would range from 22%-24%. More information can be found on the IRS website here.

  • -CPS Teachers contribute 9% of their salary to the pension fund and are eligible to receive a refund if at the end of their program.

• How do I obtain a teaching license to teach at CPS?

  • The Illinois State Board of Education is the state entity that issues teaching licenses in the state of Illinois and our program staff can provide guidance in 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 is the best neighborhood to live in?

  • Chicago is made up of 77 different neighborhoods and where to live will depend on each individual. You can live in a neighborhood that is close to public transportation for your commute, a neighborhood that reflects your home language, a neighborhood that is near your school, and more! You can review information about Chicago’s various neighborhoods through this article by domu or by Choose Chicago.

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