3142P - Exchange Students

The following procedures govern the admission of non-immigrant exchange students to the Federal Way Public Schools.

The process and guidelines are applicable to non-immigrant students requesting to enroll in one of the Federal Way high schools under the sponsorship of an approved foreign exchange organization * (J-l Student.  No foreign exchange student will be admitted to the district without first obtaining approval for admission through the Office of Student Placement.

(*Requirements for foreign exchange organization approval are listed on the following page.)

All required documentation must be filed with the Office of Student Placement between April 1 and June 15 for the student to be eligible for placement in the following school year.  Both year-long and semester placements must commence in September of the placement year.  No second semester placement is available.

• The foreign exchange student must be between 15 and 19 years of age and reside with a host family or sponsoring family living within the boundaries of the Federal Way Public Schools.
• The student shall have English language competence and the academic ability to effectively participate in the regular programs of the Federal Way Public Schools.  Acceptable documentation of the student’s language proficiency may be a satisfactory test score on a test of English language proficiency as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Secondary Limited English Proficiency (SLEP) and a video-taped conversation or equivalent as determined by the Student Placement Office.  The test results shall be provided to the District prior to the student’s acceptance.
• A transcript in English of the student’s grades is needed for evaluation.
• It is not the district’s responsibility to provide any form of special tutorial help in English proficiency, academic assistance, or financial assistance.
• An immunization record and a student health report completed by a physician in the student’s resident country translated to English shall be required and must be in compliance with Washington State requirements.
• Verification of adequate medical coverage, both health and accident, shall be required.
• The prospective student shall submit a letter directed to the school district/school administrator with the reason for applying for study in the United States as well as letters of recommendation from the student’s school principal and English teacher.

The Office of Student Placement and the appropriate high school administrator will review all documentation presented and make a determination as to the acceptance of the foreign exchange student.  Sponsoring organizations will be notified no later than June 30 regarding the acceptance or denial of submitted enrollment applications.

The Federal Way Public Schools limits the number of foreign exchange students admitted to eight students, two students per high school.  Each sponsoring organization may place no more than two students in each high school annually.  Additionally, the Federal Way Public Schools reserves the right to deny placement opportunities for all applicants relative to space availability in its high schools.

A student who has been admitted into the United States to attend a specified school other than a school in Federal Way, and wishes to apply for a transfer to the Federal Way Public Schools must meet all requirements and timelines set by the United States Information Agency (USIA), the U.S. Department of Immigration & Naturalization Services (INS) and the Federal Way Public Schools policy and procedure.

Foreign exchange students will be enrolled as full time students and will be subject to the same policies, rules of conduct and attendance requirements as regular students.

• J-l foreign exchange students may not be financially compensated for work performed for the Federal Way Public Schools in accordance with immigration requirements.
• J-l foreign exchange students attending in their 12^th grade year will be awarded a certificate of attendance in lieu of a diploma, and will be accepted for one school year only.

Organizations responsible for students who are determined to be deficient in English language proficiency after enrollment will be required to:

• Terminate the student’s placement; or
• Provide, and pay for, tutorial help until the student reaches proficiency, as determined by the Federal Way Public Schools.

Any special requirements (health or welfare) needed by the foreign exchange student will not be the responsibility of the Federal Way Public Schools.

Additional requirements for J-1 Exchange Students

(J-1 student is a foreign exchange student who is sponsored by a USIA/CSIET designated exchange program):

• Foreign exchange organizations wishing to place students at Federal Way must be approved by the council on Standards for Education Travel (CSIET) and the United States Information Agency (USIA), a federal agency governing federal regulations.  In addition, organizations must receive approval from the Federal Way Public Schools’ Office of Student Placement prior to submitting an application for acceptance of a foreign exchange student.
• Each year during the month of March the Student Placement Office will review and evaluate foreign exchange organizations desiring to place students in the Federal Way Public Schools.  To be considered for approval the organization will provide the Office of Student Placement with the following data:
• The organization’s most recent brochure describing its programs.
• Evidence of health, accident and bonding insurance.
• Name, address and telephone number of the organization’s local representative for the Federal Way area.
• Two letters of reference authored by local host families who have had students placed in their home by the organization within the last year.  Reference letters should specifically address the family’s working relationship with the organization and its local representatives.

The U.S. Department of Immigration & Naturalization Services and the United States Information Agency will be notified whenever a sponsoring organization does not comply with the district policies governing the admittance of foreign exchange students.

If, in the judgment of the school district, a sponsoring organization did not meet these responsibilities, they will be denied the opportunity to place a student in any of the district’s schools until such time as the difficulties have been resolved to the district’s satisfaction.

B-2 Visitor Status: This visa is issued to an individual who has a home in a foreign country to which he or she will return after a short stay in the United States.  The purpose of the stay in the United States is to tour, visit friends or family, or sightsee.  B-2 visitors may not attend school full-time according to the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services.

A B-2 visitor may apply to INS for a change of status to

J-1.  Those applying for this change of status must meet all requirements set forth by USIA, INS, Federal Way School District policy, and be approved for attendance in a Federal Way high school through the Office of Student Placement.  With receipt of application fees paid to INS for change of status, the student may enroll in school.

Participation in Senior Events

Exchange students who would be classified as seniors in their homeland are to be invited and allowed to participate in traditional “senior” class activities and classified as “seniors” during their participation in the exchange.

Exchange students are to be invited and allowed to participate in the graduation exercises with the graduating class in the year in which they participate in the exchange.

Exchange students are to be given a Certificate of Attendance in lieu of a diploma, and shall be so designated on the graduation program.

Date:     6/22/04