36-6. Step and Lane Adjustments

36-6.1. Prior Teaching Experience Within CPS. 

Salary step adjustments based on previous teaching experience in the Chicago public schools shall be made no later than forty-five days from the date proper claim is received in the Talent Office.

36-6.2. Prior Teaching Experience Outside CPS. 

Salary step adjustments based on previous teaching experience outside the Chicago public schools shall be made no later than forty-five days from the date proper claim and documentary proof verifying employment are received in the Talent Office.

36-6.3. Lane Placement Following Receipt of Degree. 

Salary lane placement adjustments for Lane II (master’s degree) and Lane VI (doctoral degree) shall be made no later than forty-five days from the date proper claim and official transcript certifying completion of all degree requirements are received in the Talent Office. Salary lane placement adjustments for Lane III (fifteen hours of graduate study beyond the master’s degree), Lane IV (thirty hours of graduate study beyond the master’s degree) and Lane V (forty-five hours of graduate study beyond the master’s degree) shall be made no later than forty-five days from the date proper claim and official transcripts verifying successful completion of all course work for the fifteen, thirty or forty-five hours beyond the master’s degree are received in the Talent Office. The completion date for the fifteen, thirty or forty-five semester hours of approved graduate credit beyond the master’s degree shall be determined by the regionally accredited college or university or the Talent Office.

The annual increment for National Board Certified Teachers set forth in Appendix A-2A shall be paid at the end of the semester following the teacher’s submission of proof of such certification to the Talent Office. The annual increment will be paid in two installments. The annual increment will be prorated to reflect either (i) a shortened work year if the teacher begins working after the start of the school year or resigns prior to the end of the school year or (ii) the teacher’s receipt of NBCT certification after the start of the school year.

36-6.4. Responsibility for Submitting Claims and Documentation. 

In accordance with established policy and procedures, the full burden of responsibility for applying for and submitting claims for adjustment and for filing the necessary documentary proof with the Talent Office to substantiate such claims for adjustment of teacher salaries as provided in Section 302.8 of the Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual (Compensation and Pay Plan) (Board Report: 08-0123-PO1) shall rest with the teacher.

36-6.5. Acknowledgement of Receipt of Claim. 

The BOARD shall acknowledge, in writing, the receipt of each claim within twenty-five days and shall note any deficiency in said claim if, at the time the claim is made, the teacher has provided the BOARD with a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

36-6.6. Lane Placement. 

Credit for purposes of lane placement shall be granted to teachers for participation in subject-related workshops or training sessions which are conducted by industry and other approved organizations and which have been approved in advance by the BOARD. Requests for such approval shall be given in writing to the Department of Instruction Services and submitted sufficiently far in advance to permit appropriate investigations by the BOARD. A reviewing committee set up by the BOARD shall approve or disapprove promotional credits for particular training sessions or educational programs which do not bear university credit and shall determine credit hour equivalencies of such attendance. (This applies to all teachers.)