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| Discover Chicago Public Schools Bus Tours Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the benefit of participating in one of the tours? Participants will have a vantage point that many job seekers do not - networking opportunities with principals/hiring managers, direct interface with HR staff and employment consultants, recruitment information and employment search tips related to the CPS and, most importantly, a preview of your potential employer's operation and organizational culture. Lastly, this opportunity removes the stress of planning your Chicago visit. The day activities are thoughtfully structured from approximately 8:00 am - 4:00 pm with ample flexibility and down time for participants to explore the City/nightlife at their leisure. This may mean catching a play at one of many Chicago theatres, visiting a museum, lounging by the lake, enjoying the City's summer festivals and parades or dining at one of the 27,000 diverse restaurants Chicago has to offer. 2. What schools will we tour and how many schools will be visited? On a one-day bus tour, we typically visit two to three schools. On a three-day bus tour, four to six schools will be visited. We do not choose schools based on vacancies, but rather school choice is based on who is able to accommodate us for the day. The idea of the tour is to bring teacher candidates into various schools and neighborhoods, so they can get a general idea of what urban education has to offer. The tours were created to enlighten teacher candidates about urban education and familiarize them with inner-city schools. Guests, including those who may influence your employment decision, are welcome to register as well. 3. What types of events are generally included in bus tours? THREE-DAY EXPERIENCES Explorers (for those who require housing accommodations) Explorer experience includes:
Traveler experience includes:
One-Day experience includes:
4. Are there costs attached to the tours? To maintain a standard necessary to provide a fulfilling and substantial experience, fees have been applied to offset expenses associated with accommodations (where applicable), transportation, meals, giveaways, speakers and activities. The registration fee covers all applied event costs. Please note that payment must be submitted for any guests attending as well. 5. How do I register for a tour? Once you have entered your registration information and chosen a tour date, you will be directed to the payment section. After your payment has been applied, you will receive a tour confirmation via email. It is important that participants print and bring their confirmation forms, as they will be required to produce it during check-in. Please note that walk-ins are not permitted on the tours. Each tour is designed to accommodate 30 participants; therefore, it is highly encouraged that interested attendees register early to secure their date of preference. Note: Once a tour date reaches capacity, that tour date will no longer be available for selection. You are encouraged to have an alternate date in the event that your first choice is unavailable. 6. What is the cancellation/refund policy? CANCELLATION POLICY Cancellation requests must be submitted via email ONLY to discovertours@cps.k12.il.us. The refund penalties below will apply. The email correspondence must include:
REFUND POLICY Please review the following refund statement before registering for the tour. Purchasing a tour confirms your awareness and agreement of CPS' refund polices and procedures. If unexpected circumstances should arise and impact your plans, we would be glad to assist you with rescheduling, cancellation and/or refund of fees, if eligible. Procedures are as follows: Cancellation is not final until communication has been returned. The following penalties apply for cancellations received in written format via email:
Example: (c.) If you register for the April 17th tour, within 10 days of the tour, you are NOT eligible for cancellation or refund. Example: (d.) If you register for the February 4th tour and you do not show up on the day of the tour, you are NOT eligible for a refund.
Your employment decision is a life altering choice. If you would like your spouse, parent and/or friend to attend, we can accommodate your companion. You may register this person as a GUEST when you complete your registration form. Please note that the same fee applies for your guest. Please be mindful that tour spacing only allows for 30 individuals per session; therefore only one additional companion is permitted. The companion is subject to all applicable registration fees and must produce a confirmation upon check-in. 9. Where will I stay while in Chicago? Participants do have a choice regarding their accommodations. If the non-housing option on the registration form is chosen, we presume that you will arrange your own housing and that you will not require assistance from CPS. However, if the housing option is selected, we have partnered with the J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel (Hostelling International Chicago) to ensure an affordable and exceptional visit. The J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel is located in the center of downtown Chicago and in the City's thriving education district! Please take a virtual tour at www.hichicago.org. Note: Roommate selections and/or assignments are arranged by gender. 10. What if I do not use the CPS assisted accommodations? No problem. However, please note that the J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel will act as the tour starting and ending point for daily activities on three-day tours. The facility is located at 24 E. Congress Parkway in downtown Chicago and within distance of the CTA's train lines and bus routes. Parking within the downtown area is fairly pricey; we encourage using public transportation. For other housing options, please visit www.choosechicago.com. Please note on one-day tours, we will start and finish at the Chicago Board of Education at 125 S. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. 11. What are the travel options to Chicago? Chicago is a traveler's delight; accessible by every major transportation option, including vehicle, plane, bus and train.
12. I am not from the tri-state area, what is the weather like? In the spring, one can expect a range from 50 degrees to high 60’s. The evenings fall more on the cooler side. Summer days can be anywhere from mid 70’s to 90’s and mid 70’s to low 80’s in the evening. Winters are cold, snowy and windy with temperatures that can be below freezing. To plan your visit accordingly, please visit www.chicagotribune.com/news/weather/ for updates and reports. 13. While in Chicago, I would like see attractions, where do I begin? Chicago is a tourism extravaganza, with world-renowned shopping, dining, museums, architecture, theater, music and more. Click on the following link to create your itinerary or search the calendar of events: www.choosechicago.com. 14. Can I look at housing options while in Chicago? The Chicago Public Schools was the first school district to have an internal teacher housing unit. The Teacher Housing Resource Center is there to help new hires in renting or buying within the City of Chicago. You MUST be employed with the CPS to take advantage of the housing center. The following link will provide detailed information on our housing center, including information on our various rental partners. You are more than welcome to reach out to our housing center or any of its partners at your leisure. Please visit http://teacherhousing.cps.k12.il.us/default.aspx. |
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Legal
Statement (Title IX): It is the policy of the Board of Education of the
City of Chicago not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability or sex.
Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972 and the regulations promulgated thereunder concerning sex discrimination
should be referred to the Title IX Officer, Chicago Public Schools, 125
S. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois 60603, 773-553-2688 (TTY-773-553-2699).
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Terms
of Use and Restrictions © 2007 CPS Human Resources
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