Whitefish School District                                                                                         

 

STUDENTS                                                                                                                              3145

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Foreign Exchange Students

 

It is the policy of the Board to recognize the benefits from non-immigrant students in the District.  The Board does not, however, sponsor student foreign exchange programs.  The District does not provide any financial contribution to the student, other than a complimentary WHS Activity Ticket.  The student is responsible for all other fees.  The Board assumes no responsibility or control over items such as travel, living accommodations, funding, insurance, etc., which remain the responsibility of the sponsor and/or student.

 

J-1 visa holders (students sponsored by an approved foreign exchange organization) are eligible to attend either elementary or secondary school.  Any sponsoring organization must have a local representative, be a nonprofit organization, and be approved by the Council on Standards for International Education Travel.  F-1 visa holders (individual foreign students sponsored by relatives or friends) may not attend Whitefish Public Schools.

 

Whitefish High School may accept up to six foreign exchange students per year.  The Board reserves the right to withdraw approval and regulate the numbers of students participating.

 

1.                  Students must be between the ages of 16 and 18 years.  Their 16th birthday must fall prior to September 1 on the year in which they are to attend WHS.

 

2.                  Students will only be accepted from approved programs.

 

3.                  Approved programs must have a local coordinator who resides within the District and does not receive compensation for student placement.  Approved programs must be approved by the Council on Standards for International Education Travel.

 

4.                  The local coordinator for the approved programs must contact the high school Principal by May 1st with the number of students he/she will be sponsoring.  The names of the students and the names of the host families must also be provided at this time.  Acceptance of students after May 1 will be on a first-come basis.

 

5.                  The exchange students will be evaluated by the teachers on the regular grading schedule, unless the teacher opts to initiate a pass/fail system.

 

6.                  The exchange students who have less than senior status will receive a certificate of attendance at the awards assembly in May.

 

7.                  The exchange students who have senior status may take part in all senior activities, including the graduation ceremony, where they will receive a certificate of attendance.

 

 

Legal Reference:         20 U.S.C. 221, et seq.

Policy History:

Adopted on:  5/11/99

Revised on:  8/14/07