5111.1

Students

Foreign Exchange Students

The Board of Education recognizes the cultural benefits of foreign exchange student programs. The District will accept exchange students from other nations on a J-1 Visa who reside within the District as participants in an exchange program officially recognized by the Board. Exchange students on a J-1 Visa are not required to pay tuition. Only foreign students from an exchange program designated by the U.S. Department of State sponsored by organizations screened by the administration will be accepted. No more than two (2) students at the high school may be accepted for any school year. (or: The Board reserves the right to limit the number of exchange students in a given year.)

Privately sponsored exchange students on an F-1 Visa may be enrolled if an adult resident of the District has been given temporary guardianship and the student lives in the home of that guardian. Exchange students on an F-1 Visa are required to pay tuition at the established District rate. F-1 student admission is limited to secondary schools and attendance may not exceed 12 months.

No student will be enrolled until all standards for admission have been cleared. Information such as the student's name, nationality, age, sponsor's name and address and immunization information will be required at the time of admission.

Exchange students must comply with immunization requirements set forth in state law. Once admitted, exchange students become subject to all District policies and regulations governing students and those of the school they are attending.

Admission of exchange students new to the United States will be made only at the beginning of a semester. All arrangements for admission in the fall semester must be conducted by August 1, prior to the beginning of the school term.  All placement arrangements for admission to the second semester must be completed by December 1. No placements will be made after the semester begins.

At the time of admission to the District's schools, the exchange student must be at least 16 years of age but not older than 19 years of age and will possess a reasonable knowledge of the English language. Students will be encouraged to participate in the full range of school activities/athletics provided they meet local and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) criteria.

The Board of Education directs the Superintendent to develop administrative regulations to effectively implement this policy.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-27 International students, exchange programs. Advisory Committee

Pyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982)

Illegal Immigration and Immigration Reform Act of 1996, 8 USC §§1101, 1221, 1252, 1324, 1363, 1367 (2006)

Policy adopted: