FILE: JBCBC
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS
The DeSoto Parish School Board welcomes the participation in international student exchange programs. Prior to approval of an exchange program by the School Board, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the program's qualifications to assure compliance with all state, federal, and School Board requirements. Participation in any foreign exchange program shall be subject to the following:
AGENCY REQUIREMENTS
Foreign exchange agencies must be registered with the Superintendent or his/her designee, must be listed by the Council for Standards on International Education Travel, and must be approved by the U.S. Information Agency to qualify for J-1 Visas.
The contract used by the sponsoring agency between sponsor and student must be on file and approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
The sponsoring agency must have a local representative who resides within 50 miles of DeSoto Parish, and who is available to meet with school personnel, the student, and the host family.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
The exchange student must reside with a legal resident of DeSoto Parish.
The student must possess a J-1 visa.
As of September 1 of the program year, the student must meet junior or senior placement status.
The student must not have received a high school diploma or its equivalent from his/her home school.
The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above for the previous two (2) years of study.
As required by the International Exchange Agencies, the student must have sufficient knowledge of the English language to produce effective oral and written communication, to use instructional materials and textbooks printed in English, and to function in the regular education program without special services such as Special Education or English as a Second Language. A letter of recommendation from an English/language teacher endorsing the student's proficiency in English must be included in the application materials.
An official transcript from the student's home school must be sent to and received by the assigned DeSoto Parish high school by August 1 of the student's attendance year in order to determine placement.
Students will be placed in grades according to Carnegie unit totals as indicated in the DeSoto Parish Pupil Progression Plan.
No student shall be classified as a 12th grader for the purpose of receiving a diploma unless all Carnegie unit requirements (minimum of 4500 minutes of instruction per .5 Carnegie unit) for Louisiana high school graduation can be met by the spring graduation date.
Students must meet all state and local requirement for graduation.
By August 1 of the attending year, the student shall present the following documents to the attending school with a request to attend school in DeSoto Parish:
J-1 visa
Health and immunization records
Evidence of health and accident insurance for duration of stay
The name, address, and phone numbers of the student's own parents/ guardians, the host family, and the local exchange program representative.
Two (2) character references from the home school
A notarized temporary custody agreement between the exchange student's parents/guardian and the host family
SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, OR DISMISSAL
Exchange organizations, host families, and/or exchange students found in non-compliance with policies of the DeSoto Parish School Board are subject to having their relationship with the district terminated. Exchange students are subject to the same discipline policies to which regular students must adhere.
Approved: August, 2004
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยง17:81
Council on Standards for International Education Travel
DeSoto Parish School Board