Can Teachers File For Unemployment During The Summer?

I am one of those teachers that was told by the by the Mississippi Department of Unemployment that I could file for unemployment benefits because my contract ended in May and technically I was unemployed by the  school district until August of that year.  I was told that the monies that I received during the summer months was money earned during the contracted period and was simply held over to assist me during the summer months.  Recently, I received a letter demanding repayment of all monies received.  It just blew me out the water.  Be sure that you know the laws in your state or you could very well end up like me owing thousand of dollars because of the ignorance of the people working there.

From what I know...NO..a school bus driver or a school lunch worker can because they work for a contractor most times.

If a teacher loses her job, she is as eligible for unemployment as anyone else. If a teacher is just "off for the summer," at least here in Illinois, she is not eligible for unemployment.

If you are a teacher in IL and you are not given a contract for the next school year can you file for unemployment?

It seems that the in California K-12 teachers are not eligible for UE, if they have been offered a contract for the following year.

Can a teacher collect unemplyment over the summer?  I didn't get the summer school position that I depend on.