Our district supports students from all over the world. We believe it’s important to provide exposure to new cultures so our students can be prepared as global citizens.
Our Need: 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.
Our Goal: We aim to enhance language acquisition and increase cultural understanding so our students can become competent global citizens.
Our International Teacher Program: Through partnerships with government agencies, Education and Culture Ministries and universities, CPS recruits, screens, sponsors, and employs teachers on a J-1 visa for 3 academic years.
Exchange Teachers must submit application materials in advance, demonstrate English proficiency, and interview with district officials and principals to participate in our program.
Benefits for International Teachers
- May travel freely around the United States and Internationally during school holidays
- Are full CPS employees, compensated based on their educational profile and experience
- Receive high-quality mentorship from multiple, experienced CPS teachers Access free, specialized professional development in American teaching practices and methods monthly
- Host cultural exchange activities in their CPS schools at least twice each year and facilitate partnerships with schools in their home country
Benefits for Foreign Governments
- Provide international professional development opportunities for educators
- Build relationships with American administrators and communities of expatriates
- Potential for post-to-post exchanges
Active Partner Countries
- Spain - Spanish Ministry of Education
- France - Jules-Verne Program
- Philippines - Trades and Professions
- China
- Japan
Program Related Costs
Program Costs
- Transcript Translation and Evaluation: $100 - $450
- I-901 Sevis Fee: $220 ($0 for each J-2 dependent)
- DS-160 Visa Application Fee: $185 ($185 for each J-2 dependent)
- Illinois Teacher License Application and Registration Fee: $210
- TOEFL: Between $200 - $400 USD
- Cambridge English Assessment: Approximately $200 USD
- English proficiency test fee (TOEFL or Cambridge English Assessment)
- CPS Sponsor Fee: No Fees
- Foreign or Domestic 3rd Party or Partner Fees: $2,275 - $6,800
- CPS Background Check: Covered by CPS
- CPS TB Test: $30
- CPS Drug Test: $37
Monthly Costs
- 2 Bed/2 Bath Housing: $1,000 - $3,400
- Utilities (Gas, Electricity, Water): $75 - $150
- Groceries: $350 - $600
- Local Public Transportation: $2.25 each ride or $75 monthly unlimited bus/train rides
- Car Transportation and Insurance: $450 - $1,000
- Insurance Costs: $115 - $350
- Work-Related Deductions and Estimates: $600 - $1,250
- Childcare: $1,000- $1,500
Additional Information
- 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
- Teachers have the option to join the Chicago Teachers Union. Dues are charged to teachers who join. The FY24 cost for dues is $1,403.48, and the dues are deducted from paychecks equally over the course of the school year in the amount of $70.17 per paycheck.
- 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).
- 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.
CPS is a visa sponsor and also works with other designated visa sponsors to recruit teachers for our Visiting International Teacher cultural exchange program. We currently work with the following visa sponsors:
- Greenheart Exchange (see fees here)
- Intrax Education (see fees here)
We are committed to ensuring that candidates have a great and equitable recruitment process. To learn more about our programming, a general summary of fees and other costs for the program, please review the following resources:
We currently can sponsor teachers who are natives and current residents of one of our partner countries. Please contact the Talent Office (internationalteacher@cps.edu) with additional questions.
More information about the J-1 visa issued through the United States government, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the J-1 visa website maintained by the US Department of State.