Regulation 0517-10
International Exchange Students
The West Ada School District values the cultural enrichment and global perspectives that international exchange students bring to our schools. Welcoming students from other countries strengthens learning opportunities for all students and promotes meaningful cultural exchange.
This regulation explains how international exchange students may enroll in West Ada schools, the expectations for sponsoring organizations and host families, and the requirements that must be met for participation. These procedures also help the District balance enrollment needs for students who live within our attendance boundaries while maintaining a clear and fair process for hosting international exchange students.
General Guidelines For International Exchange Students
The West Ada School District accepts international exchange students who are sponsored by organizations approved through the Student Exchange Visitor Program and recognized by the United States Department of State and/or the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.
Students must participate in an approved cultural exchange program and may not have already graduated from high school in their home country.
To ensure schools can appropriately support exchange students, each West Ada high school may host up to five (5) exchange students per school year, with only one student from each sponsoring organization allowed per school. Student placements are approved on a first-come, first-served basis until available placements are filled.
Exchange students are enrolled only at the beginning of the first semester of the school year.
Exchange students should understand that optional student services are not provided at no cost. Items such as yearbooks, activity cards, lunches, and other optional school activities must be purchased if the student chooses to participate.
The District reserves the right to withdraw an international exchange student or deny placement from a sponsoring organization if program requirements or expectations are not met.
Academic Enrollment And School Expectations
International exchange students participate in school as full-time students and are expected to follow the same classroom and school expectations as other West Ada students.
Exchange students:
- Are enrolled as full-time 11th grade (junior) students
- Are placed in junior-level core academic courses
- May enroll in elective courses based on prerequisites and demonstrated skill level
- Must complete coursework, assignments, and examinations required by teachers
- Participate fully in school classes and activities as regular students
- Must follow all attendance, behavior, and discipline policies outlined in the High School Student Handbook
Exchange students are not enrolled on a non-credit or audit basis.
Exchange students will not receive a West Ada School District diploma and may not participate in graduation ceremonies.
If a student receives a major disciplinary referral, as defined in the High School Student Handbook, the student may be withdrawn from the exchange program.
Academic Support And English Proficiency
Sponsoring organizations are responsible for ensuring that exchange students are academically prepared for participation in an English-speaking school environment.
If additional academic assistance or tutoring is necessary, the sponsoring organization must arrange and provide those supports.
Exchange students are given a two-week adjustment period at the beginning of the school year. If, after this period, the student is not demonstrating sufficient English proficiency to participate in coursework, the school will notify the local exchange organization representative.
The District may administer a district-approved English language proficiency assessment. If the student does not demonstrate acceptable proficiency, the school may begin withdrawal procedures.
Exchange Organization Requirements
Exchange organizations play an important role in supporting students and host families during the exchange experience.
Each sponsoring organization must: - Maintain an active local representative located within the southern Idaho Treasure Valley - Ensure the host family resides within the attendance boundary of the assigned school by the first day of the school year - Provide local orientation for both host families and exchange students, including information about school expectations and community norms (West Ada School District does not provide this orientation.) - Each exchange organization must submit a complete student application to the school registrar for every student requesting placement. Incomplete applications will not be processed and the organization will forfeit the placement opportunity. - Student application materials must be submitted in English and include: - Legal documentation required for entry into the United States - Host family contact information and address - Student behavioral history - Academic transcripts - Immunization records meeting state and federal requirements - Medical history, including known allergies - A written agreement allowing student information to be shared with the host family and sponsoring organization - Three letters of reference from school or community officials describing the student’s ability to adapt to a new environment - Documentation verifying the student’s English language proficiency. Acceptable English proficiency indicators include: - TOEFL score of 94 or higher - Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey score of 4 (fluent) or higher - LAS Links score of 4 (proficient) or higher - ELTiS 2.0 score of 4 (proficient) or higher
The District may also evaluate students through a personal interview, written essay, or additional English language assessment.
Exchange organizations must verify that the student will have reached sixteen (16) years of age prior to May 1 of the enrollment year.
Exchange Organization Good Standing
Exchange organizations and their local representatives must remain in Good Standing with West Ada School District in order to place students in district schools.
The District may deny or suspend placement privileges if concerns arise regarding program oversight, compliance with district expectations, or the accuracy of submitted information.
Organizations determined to be Not in Good Standing by the Superintendent or designee will be notified and may not place students in West Ada schools for a probationary period of at least one year.
Examples of situations that may affect Good Standing include, but are not limited to:
- Falsification of records
- Misrepresentation of student information
- Submitting applications for students who have already graduated
- Failure to monitor host families or students
- Documented concerns raised by West Ada staff
- Placement of students who do not meet age or English proficiency requirements
Required Timelines
All placement requests must be submitted in writing to the building designee according to the timelines below.
October
Exchange organizations are reviewed each year by the Superintendent or designee. Schools will be notified of organizations determined to be Not in Good Standing.
February 1
Schools begin accepting placement requests for international exchange students for the following school year.
May 1
Final deadline for submitting the complete student application packet to the host school. Applications received after May 1 will not be considered.
Definitions
The following definitions are provided to support clear communication between parents or guardians, sponsoring exchange organizations, and West Ada School District when discussing international exchange programs.
Foreign Student or F-1 Visa Holder: A foreign national who plans to study in the United States under an F-1 student visa. West Ada School District does not issue I-20 forms and does not accept students with F-1 visas.
Foreign Exchange Visitor or J-1 Visa Holder: A foreign national participating in a United States Department of State approved cultural exchange program. These programs allow students to temporarily study in the United States while participating in a cultural exchange experience.
Foreign Exchange Student: A student from another country studying in the United States under the sponsorship of an approved exchange organization, cultural exchange program, or international exchange program.
Federal regulations under 22 CFR 62.40 describe circumstances in which an exchange visitor’s participation in a program may be terminated. These include situations where a student fails to participate in the intended program activities, violates program rules, fails to maintain required insurance coverage, or engages in unauthorized employment.