Students on J-1 Visa - Foreign Exchange Students
Orange County Public Schools will accept Foreign Exchange Students for the 2023-24 school year.
Procedures for Admission of Eligible Students as prescribed in School Board Policy JFABB
(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.
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
School of Enrollment
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.