Foreign exchange students living within the boundaries of the school district who have obtained
a J-1 visa and who are sponsored by an organization listed on the Council on Standards for
International Educational Travel (CSIET) Advisory List will be allowed to enroll in the district
without paying tuition. Compliance with district policies and procedures is required before the
district will enroll a foreign exchange student.
A foreign exchange student is defined as a foreign national having a residence in a foreign country
who has been granted a J-1 visa for temporary admission to the United States for the purpose of
participating in an educational exchange program.
District Requirements for Consideration and for Filing an Application
1. The district will accept foreign exchange students from sponsoring agencies approved and
published by the CSIET. The district will only enroll foreign exchange students with a J-1
visa.
2. Foreign exchange students' acceptance into the district will be coordinated and approved
through the secondary director.
3. Foreign exchange students must be proficient in both written and oral English. The district
may deny enrollment to a foreign exchange student if it appears that the student will have
significant communication problems. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring agency to
verify the English proficiency of foreign exchange students in their program, and proof of
English proficiency must be submitted to the district.
4. Foreign exchange students must be between the ages of 15 and 18 at the time of
enrollment.
5. Foreign exchange students must live with a host family residing within the boundaries of
the district.
6. Foreign exchange students must file their registration at the secondary director's office.
All application materials must have been received at least 90 days prior to the first day of
the school year in which the student wishes to enroll.
7. The exchange student or the sponsoring agency must supply the district with the following
registration information:
► A completed enrollment form.
► A complete academic history of the student, including a completed academic
transcript, translated into English if necessary; the number of years of school
completed prior to enrollment; the number of years required in the student's home
country for the completion of secondary school; and proof of English proficiency.
► A signed medical release and proof of health insurance.
► The host family's name, address and telephone number.
► The placement representative's name, address and telephone number.
► The confirmation of the visa status of the student.
8. Foreign exchange students must also provide proof of immunization and meet other
enrollment requirements as set forth in state law and Board policy.
9. The superintendent will make the decision to admit or deny enrollment to any foreign
exchange student. Enrollment may still be denied even if all of the above information has
been provided to the district.
General Rules
1. All foreign exchange students will take a full academic course load.
2. The district will assign foreign exchange students to grades and classes based upon the
student's transcript information. The district may reassign students if it later determines
reassignment to be in the student's best interest.
3. Unless otherwise required by law, the sponsoring agency, not the district, will provide
additional services that the exchange student may require (e.g., tutors, special reading
programs, etc.).
4. All foreign exchange students shall be subject to all rules, regulations and policies of the
district. In addition to normal disciplinary sanctions, violations of these rules may result
in removal or expulsion of the foreign exchange student from the high school, as well as
referral to the sponsoring agency.
5. The district may grant the foreign exchange student a diploma if it determines that the
student has met all the necessary requirements set forth by the Board of Education or if the
student would have met all necessary requirements for graduation set forth in his or her
home country. However, the foreign exchange student is not guaranteed the right to
graduate from the district or to receive a diploma.
6. The number of tuition-free exchange students will be limited to four (4) per school year,
with no more than three (3) from any one approved agency. In the event of multiple
applications, preference will be given to those students who are associated with recognized
local support groups.
District Requirements of Sponsoring Agencies and Parents of Foreign Exchange Students
1. The sponsoring agency is responsible for obtaining all necessary records and information
regarding the foreign exchange student and for submitting those records to the secondary
director in accordance with district deadlines.
2. The sponsoring agency is responsible for the placement of students with appropriate
families and for dealing with any of the personal problems affecting the exchange students
in relationship to their families and their residential assignments.
3. The sponsoring agency is responsible for reporting to the high school principal any change
in the placement of the foreign exchange students.
4. The sponsoring agency and the parents of the foreign exchange student are jointly
responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required legal documentation.
5. The sponsoring agency and the parents of the foreign exchange student are jointly
responsible for determining what, if any, credit is granted by any other school for
academic work in the Jefferson City School District.
6. The sponsoring agency will be available to school personnel for consultation and advice
on any matters and problems relative to their program and to those students who are
enrolled in the district.
If needed, and required by law the district will provide education services in addition to those
regularly provided to district students. However, if the district is not legally required to provide
additional services the sponsoring agency must provide additional services required by the student,
(e.g. tutors, special reading programs, etc.).
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to review policies and/or forms for related information in
this administrative area.
Implemented: 09/10/1990
Revised: 06/08/1998; 03/01/2007
Jefferson City School District, Jefferson City, Missouri
Top of Page
|
