Take a look at the contract. Does it offer a big bonus, large enough to cover airfare? If it doesn't have that either, they aren't ripping you off per se, but you're better off looking for a different job. Most jobs offer to reimburse airfare. You should always apply to multiple jobs, and choose the best contract. After all, if you go shopping, you usually compare prices, right? Also remember to do research. If you had, you would have known this, and it will also prevent you from making other big mistakes.

Ther STANDARD for a one-year contract is exactly what it says on the contract.  It may say a cash bonus at the succesful end of a contract, it may say that they will pay a one-way ticket, aq round trip ticket, or a flat fee for airfare expenses, and also if it does not say anything, you get nothing.

Sometimes you must fight to get what you signed for, since many employers do not pay much attention or have respect for a written contract, while others do.  But if it ain't on it, you will not get it.

Next time, before signing, make sure all "T's" are crossed and all "i's" have dots on top.  And again, maybe when that contract is over, you still will have a fight in your hands to receive what is due to you.

To add to the other two posts, if you are really concerned, simply request they pay your airfare up front. It's rare, but it does happen...to me for instance.

I would say that yes, it's common to be reimbursed upon completion of a 1 year contract.

There's no standard format, unfortunately, and I think you haven't really given enough details to say one way or another (understandable).

My school offers an airfare "bonus" (a set figure sum, not an actual reimbursement for costs acrued) at the six month mark and the 12 month mark, then small monthly performance bonuses. We don't get a 'bonus' at the end but we get paid better than anything else we were looking at for the costs of where we live. When we signed we were considering another company who offered lower monthly payments then a big bonus as well as airfare reimbursement at the end. We decided against it for much the same concerns raised above.

If you're concerned, negotiate. Ensure you get something, or if not then get MUCH higher monthly pay than the competition wold offer.

If you work for a public school then it is the local Government who pay for it, so in this case yes.

No, all schools will not offer the 1 year airfare reimbursement. Some schools don' have that in there contract so they are not obligated to provide that service for you. Check the contract first because all the schools don't do this it's only certain schools which would probably be the more respected and reputable schools.