The
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has the capacity to develop international partnerships with education authorities of different countries around the world to provide World Languages services to students and school districts in
Kentucky.
Using as a reference the KDE Visiting International Teacher Program Expectations and Agreements document, these partnerships are developed by creating a Memorandum of Understanding, a document that expresses mutual accord on an issue between two or more parties, and signed by the education authorities of all the parties involved. To be legally operative, a memorandum of understanding must identify the contracting parties, spell out the subject matter of the agreement and its objectives, summarize the essential terms of the agreement, and must be signed by the contracting parties.
Currently, the KDE has a Memorandum of Understanding signed with education authorities in Spain, an official partnership with education authorities in Taiwan, and a partnership with the Northern Kentucky Center for Educational Services (NKCES) to support Mandarin language education.
Furthermore, Kentucky schools also have the opportunity to hire exchange visitors by working with the additional approved sponsoring agents listed below.
Institute of International Education
HTP J-1 Visa Programs
International Expert Resources
Cordell Hull Foundation
HRC International
KDE Visiting International Teacher Program
If your school needs a World Languages teacher next year, or if you are looking to internationalize your faculty, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) can assist you: The Kentucky Department of Education has developed international partnerships with education authorities of different countries around the world to provide World Languages services to students and school districts in Kentucky. Other programs are available, although not officiated through KDE.
Program Participation Fees - Please note that the Department does not charge any visa sponsorship or program participation fees to the international exchange teachers coming to Kentucky. Additionally, exchange visitors sponsored by the Department are not subject to any foreign or domestic third-party or partner organization fees.
SEVIS and J-1 Visa Fees - Before you can apply for a visa to enter the United States as an exchange visitor, you need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee, which is currently $220. The cost to apply for the required J-1 visa is $185. There is an additional cost for each dependent's J-2 visa. Exchange Visitors will also have to pay for an international credential evaluation fee ($176-$220) required for securing a Kentucky teaching license. There is no fee for the one-year limited teacher certification.
Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) - FICA is a U.S. federal payroll tax. It is deducted from each paycheck. From your wages, 7.65% will be deducted for FICA with 6.2% going to Social Security tax and 1.45% to Medicare tax.
Optional Fees - Exchange visitors can choose to join professional educator organizations in the state. Those fees range from $200-$618 a year. There is no requirement to join a professional organization or union.
Third-Party Organizations-The Department collaborates exclusively with the following third-party organizations to recruit international exchange teachers for its programs:
- Ministry of Education of Spain (Spanish Visiting Teacher Program)
- Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (Visiting Chinese Language Teachers from China Program)
- Ministry of Education of Taiwan/Taipei Economic and Cultural Office – (Visiting Chinese Language Teachers from Taiwan Program)