Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3080

Foreign Exchange Students

Philosophy

The District believes that foreign exchange students add to the richness of the high school setting for both District

and foreign students. Thus, the District is willing to enroll a manageable number of foreign exchange students.

To protect the interests of the District and students, the District has adopted the following policies. It should be

realized that foreign exchange students are educated at the expense of the taxpayers of the District and the State

of Idaho.

I. The foreign exchange student must be sixteen (16) years of age or younger at the time of enrollment.

II. The foreign exchange student must reside with a legal resident of the District. Exceptions may be

granted.

III. The foreign exchange student must have sufficient knowledge of the English language to enable effective

communication and to use instructional materials and textbooks printed in English.

A. An English proficiency test of the District’s own choosing may be administered and will supersede all other tests;

B. If an organization places a student who, upon arrival, is deemed by the District to be deficient in

English language proficiency, the organization will do one of the following:

1. Terminate the student’s placement

2. Provide, and pay for, tutorial help until the student reaches proficiency, as determined

by the District.

Academic Standards and Graduation

I. The foreign exchange student will be expected to meet all appropriate standards required of any student

enrolled in the District.

II. Foreign exchange students may not graduate and receive a diploma from Jerome High School. (They may

participate in the ceremonies and receive a certificate of attendance.)

Orientation by the Exchange Organization

I. Orientation, both pre-departure and upon arrival in the United States, must be provided to the exchange

student.

II. Orientation must also be provided to the host family in advance of the exchange student’s arrival. The

family should be advised of potential problems in hosting an exchange student and provided with

suggestions for coping with these problems.

III. The student’s host family and the District must be provided written information which includes at least:

A. Name, address, and phone number of both local and area coordinators for the exchange

organization.

B. A twenty-four-(24)-hour emergency telephone number for immediate assistance by the

exchange organization.

Supervision

I. The sponsoring foreign student exchange organization must assume the final responsibility of resolving

problems, including, if necessary, the changing of host families or the early return home of the exchange

student because of personal, family, or school difficulties.

II. The sponsoring foreign student exchange organization must contact the exchange student and host family

periodically throughout the exchange visit to ensure that problems are dealt with promptly and

effectively.

III. The host family must be available and willing to meet with school personnel when functions or conditions

require it.

District Expectations

Student Opportunities/Responsibilities

I. Required Courses. Foreign exchange students will be expected to enroll in the following academic classes

while attending Jerome High School:

A. One (1) English class;

B. One (1) United States history class or one (1) government class;

C. Maintain enrollment in at least five (5) classes.

II. Athletic Program. Foreign exchange students are eligible to participate in the Jerome High School

Activities Program. Guidelines for participation are set by District policy and by the Idaho High School

Activities Association (IHSAA), as follows:

A. GRADUATION. The student cannot have graduated or received a diploma in his/ her own

country.

III. Student Fees. Foreign exchange students are expected to pay all yearbook fees, lab fees, prom tickets,

yearbook costs, athletic fees, cap and gown fees, lunch prices, and all other school incurred expenses that

are expected of other students enrolled in Jerome High School.

IV. Achievement and Discipline. Foreign exchange students must maintain passing grades in all classes,

follow rules and regulations of District student policies, and show satisfactory discipline and attendance.

Failure to comply with these expectations shall result in dismissal of the student from the District’s

Foreign Exchange Program.

V. Scholarship(s). The District will not include names of foreign exchange students in its formal class-rank

listing based on cumulative grade point average, nor will foreign exchange students be eligible to apply

for any local scholarship.

Placement Quotas for Foreign Student Exchange Organizations

I. Jerome High School will accept a maximum of four (4) individually sponsored exchange students on a first

come, first served basis.

II. The fact that a foreign exchange organization has located a host family within the District does not infer

the District will automatically enroll the student. While the organization may develop such an agreement

with a host family, the family should be advised it is contingent upon admission to Jerome High School.

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

IDAPA 08.02.03.105.03 Foreign Exchange Students

Cross Reference: Policy 3010 Open Enrollment by Students Who Reside Within and Outside of the District

Policy 3010P Open Enrollment Procedure

Policy History:

Adopted on: 04/28/2009

Revised on: 12/19/2023