What are the types of school employees?

For Unemployment Insurance purposes, a school employee is a person who works or provides services for a public or private nonprofit educational institution. Unless otherwise noted, a school employee may also be school support personnel who provide services to, or on behalf of, an educational institution.

• Professional School Employee: A school employee who performs work in a primary instructional, research, or administrative capacity (such as a teacher, principal, registrar, etc.).
• Non-professional school employee: All other school employees (such as custodians, cafeteria workers, teacher aides, etc.).

What is a recess period?

 A break period is the period of time between terms, or within terms when classes are not usually scheduled. Examples of break periods include summer holidays and holiday breaks such as winter or spring.

What is a reasonable guarantee?

A reasonable assurance is a written, verbal, or implied agreement that the school employee will perform services for an educational institution during the next academic year, term, or the remainder of a term.

How do I apply for benefits?

School employees must apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits. After you apply, we will send you a questionnaire about your school employment.

If my school employer notifies me during the break period that I no longer have a job when the next term begins, am I eligible to receive benefits for the remainder of the break period?

Yes, as long as you meet all eligibility requirements. When you apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits, we will verify with the school employer that the job offer was withdrawn.

At the end of the school term, my school employer gave me a return to work date for the next school year. Before the term started, I was laid off because my position was eliminated. Am I eligible for retroactive benefits?

Yes, if you are a non-professional school employee or school support employee and you meet all of the following conditions:

• He was fired by the school employer.
• You were not previously disqualified for benefits (except reasonable assurance of return to work).
• Certificate for benefits during the recess period.
• You met all eligibility requirements during the break period.

If a school employer offers work to a substitute teacher in the next school year or term as a substitute teacher but does not set a definite return-to-work date, is the substitute teacher eligible for benefits during the break period?

In general, no; The school employer is not required to give substitute teachers a defined return-to-work date to establish that there is a reasonable assurance of returning to work.

If a person has worked as a substitute teacher and the school employer offers substitute work during the next school year or term under the same general conditions and the person accepts the offer, there is a reasonable assurance that the person will return to work.

My last day of work was at my part-time job for a non-school employer. In addition to this job, I work for a school employer. A school employer has offered me a job when the recess period ends. Am I eligible for benefits during the break period?

You are not eligible to receive benefits based on your school wages during the recess period.

If there are enough non-school wages to establish a valid claim, you may be eligible for benefits based on these wages, as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.

If a job offer in the upcoming school year is contingent on enrollment or funding, am I eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits?

If a job offer in the upcoming school year is based on enrollment or funding and you have returned to work in previous school years under these conditions, you may not be eligible for benefits during the summer break. A claims examiner will review the specific facts of your employment to determine eligibility for benefits.