Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common member questions.
Find information about salary schedules, sick days, class sizes, and reviewing your paycheck. These summaries are a starting point. The complete collective bargaining agreement controls, and an EEA representative can help you understand how it applies to your individual circumstances.
Find a Contract Topic
Start with the topic that most closely matches your question. The article and page references will help you locate the controlling language in the complete agreement.
SALARY SCHEDULES
Find current salary schedules and information about salary placement, step movement, and horizontal movement.
SICK DAYS
Find information about earning, using, and tracking your sick leave.
CLASS SIZES
Review class-size expectations and learn what to do if you have a concern.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR CHECK
Find your pay stub and review your pay, deductions, extra pay, and leave balances.
Where can I find the current salary schedules?
The 2025–2027 collective bargaining agreement contains the current salary information. The 2025–2026 salary schedule appears on page 50, and the 2026–2027 salary schedule appears on page 51.
How do I read the salary schedule?
Locate the education lane that applies to you and the experience step assigned to you. Salary placement can depend on verified education, qualifying experience, and the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
What should I know about horizontal movement?
Employees seeking horizontal movement must submit the required application and supporting documentation. The agreement states that applications must be submitted by September 1 to receive credit during the current school year. Applications submitted after September 1 are applied to the following school year.
Official transcripts and applicable preapproval documents may be required. Employees are responsible for retaining and submitting the necessary documentation.
See Article VII, Salary/Compensation, pages 35–44, and the salary schedules on pages 49–51 of the current agreement.
If your placement, step, lane, or salary appears incorrect, contact EEA before assuming how the contract applies to your situation.
SICK DAYS
How many sick-leave days do teachers receive?
The agreement provides each teacher with a normal annual allotment of 15 sick-leave days. Unused sick leave may accumulate without a stated maximum.
Are there additional allotments for accumulated sick leave?
A teacher who reaches 135 accumulated sick-leave days at the end of a school year receives a one-time allotment of 35 days at the beginning of the next school year.
A teacher who reaches 225 accumulated sick-leave days at the end of a school year receives a one-time allotment of 55 days at the beginning of the next school year.
After receiving one of these increased allotments, the normal annual allotment returns to 15 days. Each increased allotment is available only the first time the employee reaches that threshold.
Where can I check my balance?
Sign in to the District 7 Employee Access Center and review the available leave information. If the balance appears incorrect, save a copy or screenshot for your personal records and contact the appropriate district office or EEA.
See Article VI, Welfare, beginning on page 26 of the current agreement. Sick Leave Bank provisions begin on page 27.
Leave situations can involve additional contract provisions, district procedures, or legal requirements. Contact EEA before relying only on this summary for an individual leave decision.
CLASS SIZES
When are class sizes determined?
The agreement states that K–12 class size is based on sixth-day attendance at the beginning of each semester. A student must be currently enrolled and have attended at least one full scheduled day to be included in the enrollment count.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kindergarten
0–24 students: No assistant
25–26 students: A three-hour assistant is assigned
27 students during the first semester: Class split
27 students during the second semester: One full-time assistant or teacher is provided for that grade level within the building
Grades 1–3
0–25 students: No assistant
26–27 students: A three-hour assistant is assigned
28 students during the first semester: Class split
28 students during the second semester: One full-time assistant or teacher is provided for that grade level within the building
Grades 4–5
0–28 students: No assistant
29 students: A three-hour assistant is assigned
30 students during the first semester: Class split
30 students during the second semester: One full-time assistant or teacher is provided for that grade level within the building
The elementary provisions include additional language concerning students receiving special education services, applicable ratios, support, specialized programs, and compensation when maximums are exceeded.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Core-content teachers: Maximum of 186 student contacts per semester
Core-content and elective-only classes: Maximum of 32 students per class
Advisory: Maximum of 26 students
Elective-only teachers, including physical education: Maximum of 240 student contacts per semester
Physical education classes: Maximum of 40 students per class
Performing Arts: Not subject to the stated student-contact or class-size limits
Middle school teachers who exceed applicable class-size or student-contact maximums receive the contractual stipend described in the agreement.
HIGH SCHOOL
Classes: Maximum of 34 students per class
Daily student contacts: Maximum of 163 per teacher
Physical education: Maximum of 180 daily student contacts
Study Hall and Performing Arts are exceptions described in the agreement.
PRESCHOOL
Preschool enrollment is subject to applicable ISBE and DCFS limits.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A CONCERN?
Record the course, section, number of students, date, and any schedule changes. Contact your building representative or submit a Member Support request. Do not include student names in a website form.
See Article V, Working Conditions, pages 18–20 of the current agreement. The complete agreement controls when determining whether a limit, exception, support, or stipend applies.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR CHECK
Where can I find my paycheck information?
Go to the District 7 website, open the Staff menu, and select Employee Access Center for current employees. Sign in and open the payroll or check-history area. The exact menu wording may vary.
What should I review?
Compare the information on your pay statement with your records. Review:
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Gross pay
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Regular contract pay
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Extra-duty or additional-work payments
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Taxes
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Insurance deductions
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TRS contributions
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Association dues and other authorized deductions
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Leave balances, when displayed
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Net pay
When are employees paid?
For the 2026–2027 school year, the agreement establishes the 14th and 28th of each month as paydays. If either date falls on a non-workday, payment is made on the preceding banking day.
Monthly extra-pay items—including internal substituting, curriculum work, and tutoring—are paid on the second paycheck of the following month. Teachers are paid over 12 months.
What should I do if something does not look correct?
Save the pay statement to a personal device or print a copy. Compare it with your contract, approved extra-pay records, leave records, and previous statements. Do not send a pay statement containing sensitive information through the public Member Support form.
Contact the district payroll office about processing questions. Contact EEA if you believe the issue may involve the collective bargaining agreement.
See Article VII, Salary/Compensation, beginning on page 35 of the current agreement.
Disclaimer
The information on this page provides general guidance for EEA members. It does not replace the complete collective bargaining agreement or individualized assistance from an EEA or IEA representative. If a summary appears to conflict with the agreement, the language of the agreement controls.
Last reviewed: September 2026