Chicago Makes Deal With Feds To Hire Foreign Teachers

By Ann Bradley

The Chicago public schools are facing such a severe shortage of math and science teachers that the system has teamed up with two federal agencies to recruit teachers overseas.

The nation's third-largest district announced last month it had reached agreements with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to bring in foreign teachers for up to six years.

While other districts, such as New York City, have sought qualified teachers abroad, the Chicago initiative is unique because the INS will issue visas similar to those used to fill...