Procedure: 3142P
Students
International Student Exchange
1. Only those organizations sponsoring foreign exchange students who have been approved by the U.S. International Communication Agency as having teenager exchange-visitor program designations, will be considered for possible acceptance by the District.
2. The sponsoring organization must be able to demonstrate that:
a. appropriate screening of exchange candidates takes place;
b. exchange students have a J-1 certificate in a non-immigrant category;
c. adequate medical coverage is guaranteed the exchange student;
d. medical and emergency travel are available to the exchange student at no charge to the school system, student, or the family with which he/she resides;
e. the student will be responsible for all fees normally charged regular students;
f. appropriate screening of host families;
g. reliable area representative(s) readily available;
h. orientation, both pre-departure and upon arrival in the United States, to all foreign exchange students has been accomplished;
i. foreign exchange students satisfy the same age and other general requirements of regular students as established by state and local education agencies.
3. No organization sponsoring a foreign exchange program shall place a student in a secondary school without first notifying the principal or superintendent and obtaining approval for the admission of the student. The designated program sponsor is responsible for the selection of the American host family. A program sponsor’s representative must personally interview and visit the home of each host family before that family is permitted to receive an exchange student. Telephone interviews are not sufficient. Personal interview must be done before student’s arrival.
4. Sponsoring organizations must provide the host school with the foreign student’s English translation of his/her transcript and other pertinent information that may be desired by the school district at least two months prior to the time of enrollment.
5. Students from sponsoring organizations will be entered only at the beginning of a semester and for a minimum of one semester of attendance and a maximum of two. Any student attending less than one full school year will not be awarded a diploma; however participation in Baccalaureate and Commencement is allowed.
6. All exchange students must:
a. take courses for credit;
b. take an English class and the appropriate history (11th or 12th).
A student desiring a Sumner High School diploma must meet minimum graduation requirements or the equivalent. In addition, they must successfully complete English, Senior Social Studies, and Washington State History.
7. Students from sponsoring organizations will be subject to the same policies, to the same rules of conduct, and to the same attendance requirements that apply to regular students. Exchange students from sponsoring organizations shall be accorded all of the rights and privileges of a regular student during the period of enrollment.
8. Immigration authorities and the International Communication Agency will be notified if the student and/or organization does not comply with the policy governing the admittance of foreign exchange students.
9. If in the judgment of the school district a sponsoring organization did not meet its responsibilities as outlined above, it will be denied the opportunity to place a student(s) in any of the District’s schools the following year.
Revised 1/1994