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 Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
(“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 J1 VISA.
(2) Applications. 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 (1) 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 (1) 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 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 Student Enrollment 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 (unless lunch is provided to the entire school free of
charge), admission to school activities, commemorative items such as the yearbook and
school ring, and other student-related expenses.
(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
Athletic Association (“FHSAA”) 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) Transcripts. Upon completion of the stay in Orange County, the Foreign Exchange Student
shall be issued an official transcript of all work completed.
(12) Registration and 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, following the provisions outlined in Board Policy JCA.
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.