Students on J-1 Visa - Foreign Exchange Students
Orange County Public Schools will accept Foreign Exchange Students for the 2023-24 school year. Organizations work directly with the school/principal for the application process following the policy below.
Procedures for Admission of Eligible Students as prescribed in School Board Policy JFABB
Any foreign student who is sponsored by a foreign exchange visitor program
approved by the U.S. Department of State and on the CSIET Advisory List of
Educational Travel & Exchange Programs and who fulfills eligibility requirements
including the written approval of an Orange County principal is entitled to attend an
Orange County high school.
(1) Definitions.
(a) Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
(CSIET) is an organization that sets standards for international
youth exchange programs; monitors organizations’ compliance
with CSIET Standards; publishes the results of the evaluation
process in the Advisory List and distributes the Advisory list
throughout the educational community. CSIET is endorsed by the
United States Department of State.
(b) Sponsoring Organization is a non-profit organization offering
international educational and cultural youth exchange experiences
through their programs.
(c) Sponsor is the person from the participating foreign exchange
student organization who undertakes responsibility for the
recruitment, placement and overseeing the Foreign Exchange
Student for said student’s entire exchange experience.
(d) Foreign Exchange Student is a foreign national secondary
student who has been selected by a sponsor of a youth exchange
organization, to participate for up to one year of study in a United
States public or private secondary school, while living with an
American host family or residing at an accredited U.S. boarding
school, and who is seeking to enter, or has entered, the United
States temporarily on a J-1 VISA.
(2) Applications may be made by organizations designated as Exchange-Visitor
Sponsors for Teen-Ager Programs by the U.S. Department of State on the
CSIET Advisory List of Educational Travel & Exchange Programs; provided
however, the organization submitting said application shall have tax-exempt
status as conferred by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to section
501(c)(3), and shall submit proof of such status to Orange County Public
Schools with the required application.
(3) Eligible Students. Students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
(a) Agree to be in attendance a minimum of one (1) semester;
attendance for two (2) semesters is preferred;
(b) Be at least fifteen (15) but not more than eighteen (18) years of age
on the date of enrollment;
(c) Have sufficient knowledge of the English language to participate in
high school classes;
(d) Provide proof of appropriate medical insurance coverage;
(e) Be accepted by a host family;
(f) Have not received a high school degree or diploma; and
(g) Receive approval from the Orange County high school principal.
(4) Procedures for Admission of Eligible Students.
(a) A Foreign Exchange Student must obtain written approval of the
Orange County high school principal at least two (2) months prior to
such Foreign Exchange Student’s enrollment date;
(b) The principal may grant approval for entrance of Foreign Exchange
Students to:
(i) A maximum of ten (10) Foreign Exchange Students per year;
and
(ii) No more than two (2) Foreign Exchange Students from the
same country shall be approved for admission to any one
high school per year.
(c) The application to the principal shall include:
(i) A transcript from the Foreign Exchange Student’s current
school;
(ii) Evidence of sufficient English language proficiency,
including reading, writing, and speaking, that will enable
the student to successfully function at the academic level
in which the Foreign Exchange Student is enrolled. It is not
the district’s responsibility to provide any form of special
tutorial help in English proficiency; therefore, foreign
exchange students are not eligible for ESOL services nor
are they eligible for tutoring or other special services.
Evidence may be one or more of the following:
a. Written attestation by an official of the Foreign
Exchange Student's home school, or of the
American Embassy in the Foreign Exchange
Student's home country, or by an American citizen
in the Foreign Exchange Student's home country
who has taught the student in an academic
capacity; or
b. Submission by the Foreign Exchange Student of a
letter in his/her own handwriting in English and a
micro-cassette tape recording of his/her voice
speaking and reading English.
(iii) Pertinent information about the Foreign Exchange Student;
(iv) Documentation of the Foreign Exchange Student’s health
record and an assurance of appropriate medical insurance
coverage;
(v) Documentation verifying the age of the Foreign Exchange
Student; and
(vi) Written verification that the Foreign Exchange Student has
not completed graduation requirements or received a
diploma or similar degree from the high school in his/her
country.
(5) Enrollment and Orientation. The Foreign Exchange Student and a member
of the host family shall meet with the principal and a counselor to enroll the
Foreign Exchange Student. The following information will be required at this
enrollment meeting:
(a) Copy of the Foreign Exchange Student’s application packet with
signed approval from the appropriate Orange County Public School
principal;
(b) Educational Guardianship Documentation. The host family must
secure educational guardianship from the district’s pupil assignment
office prior to the enrollment and registration meeting;
(c) J-1 visa and passport or birth certificate;
(d) Proof of immunization on the Florida HRS 680 form;
(e) Proof of physical examination within the last calendar year; and
(f) Verification of host family domicile in Orange County, Florida.
Formal entrance to school shall be at the beginning of a semester. An
orientation designed to acquaint the Foreign Exchange Student with the
American school and with the Code of Student Conduct shall be provided by
the school staff. The Foreign Exchange Student shall be expected to follow
school rules including complying with the Code of Student Conduct and to
participate fully in the education program provided.
(6) Supervision. It is the Sponsoring Organization’s responsibility to resolve
problems that arise between the Foreign Exchange Student, the host family,
and/or the high school including, if necessary, the changing of host families
or the early return home of the Foreign Exchange Student because of
personal difficulties. The principal shall notify the local representative of the
Sponsoring Organization if the host family is reported to be neglecting the
needs of the Foreign Exchange Student. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Sponsoring Organization shall assume responsibility for the student’s health,
safety, and legal obligations.
(7) Financial Support. School-related expenses shall be the responsibility of the
Sponsoring Organization and the host family. The Foreign Exchange
Student may finance school-related expenses if the Foreign Exchange
Student is able. The Foreign Exchange Student or host family shall pay for
school lunches, admission to school activities, and commemorative items
such as the yearbook and school ring.
(8) Employment. Foreign Exchange Students shall not be permitted to take
regular part-time jobs during their stay in the United States. Noncompetitive
small jobs, not to exceed ten (10) hours a week, such as tutoring, grass
cutting, and babysitting or house sitting, shall be permitted. Foreign
Exchange Students shall not be enrolled in cooperative programs.
(9) Athletic Eligibility. Foreign Exchange Students shall be governed by the
Florida High School Activities Association rules and regulations regarding
participation in interscholastic athletic competition.
(10) Academics and Grade Classification.
(a) Foreign Exchange students will not be eligible to receive an Orange
County Public High School Diploma.
(b) Foreign Exchange students will be classified as 9th, 10th, or 11th
graders.
(c) Foreign Exchange students will be required to enroll in English,
American History, American Government, and Economics.
(11) Upon completion of the stay in Orange County, the Foreign Exchange
Student shall be issued an official transcript of all work completed.
(12) Foreign Exchange Students shall only be permitted to register at the high
school designated as the school within the regular school attendance
boundary of the host family’s residence.
As the student will be residing with someone other than the parent, an Educational Guardianship is required – Please refer to our website for requirements:
Educational Guardianship requirements
IMPORTANT:A notarized letter from parents naming Educational Guardian is required.