Regulation 5110-2

Admission

International Students

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board: 
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 05/25/2010
Related policies & regulations:  
Legal references:  22 U.S.C. §2451, et seq.

 

It shall be the general practice of the Lincoln Public Schools to provide educational opportunities for international exchange students consistent with the following statements.

Program Approval

1. General
   • The Superintendent of Schools or designee will approve programs meeting all criteria on the basis of an annual written application to be completed by March 1 for the following school year.
   • The School District of Lincoln will generally accept a maximum of 24 students from other nations who come to Lincoln via exchange programs officially recognized by the Superintendent of Schools.
   • The program provides opportunities for Lincoln Public School students to travel abroad as well as bringing international exchange students to Lincoln and the number of Lincoln Public School students availing themselves of the opportunity is comparable to the number of students brought to Lincoln.
   • The Superintendent of Schools or designee may approve mutual exchange privileges between Lincoln Public Schools students, provided that free school privileges are granted to the Lincoln students in exchange for free tuition for international students.
2. Sponsoring Agency/Organization/Program - An agency, organization or program may be approved to place students in the Lincoln Public Schools if it meets the following criteria:
   • Provides evidence that the program fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Department of State and is currently approved by that department.  An international exchange program may not be approved unless it is on the current Advisory List of International Educational Travel and Exchange Programs that is maintained by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.
   • The program has an organizational sponsorship which:
     • Is a not-for-profit agency,
     • Has a local Lincoln committee
     • Has established procedures and a published set of policies for screening homes for placement of students.  Exchange students will be placed in host families having a student(s) enrolled in the school attended by the exchange student, or a student attending the same school will be assigned by the organization to be a “host student” to the exchange student,
     • Has procedures for handling emergencies and has an availability of program-approved and trained individuals within a reasonable driving distance of Lincoln other than the host family for assistance,
     • Selects students for participation who have proven academic ability and language skills to study successfully in the Lincoln Public Schools,
     • Provides personal and educational information about an international exchange student to the Lincoln Public Schools prior to placement,
     • Provides evidence that local criteria has been met in approving students for selection and placement of international exchange students in the Lincoln Public Schools, and
     • Provide information about the program and the local committee to the Lincoln Public Schools.

Procedures

1. Admissions/Enrollment
   • Admission of exchange students new to the United States will be made only at the beginning of a school semester.  All arrangements for admission must be concluded at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.
   • Exchange students must be at least 15 years of age at time of admission and not more than 18 years and six months of age as of the time of admission.  Exchange students must not have graduated from high school (or an equivalent educational institution) prior to enrollment in the District.  Exchange students on an F-1 visa will not be eligible for participation.  In limited circumstances, option enrollment provisions can be considered by the District for host families of exchange students.
   • The host family of the exchange student must be residents of the District at time of admission or live within a reasonable distance from Lincoln if the exchange student is attending Lincoln Public Schools.
   • The international exchange program shall be responsible for providing the District with all documents and records required by federal and state law and such other documents and records that the District may request.  The documentation is to include information to establish that the international exchange student has adequate financial support, that the student is covered by health insurance, a complete transcript and a brief explanation of the transcript, and such other documentation that the Office of Student Services determines appropriate.  The international exchange program must provide documentation to verify the student’s English language proficiency as part of the application process.  Exchange students will be screened for ELL eligibility and served by the ELL program if needed based on the screening.  Exchange students will not be admitted until all such documents and records are received and approved by the Office of Student Services.
   • The requirements and expectations of the student, sponsoring agency, organization, program and the high school of attendance shall be clarified prior to admission and registration.
   • Students will not be enrolled until all standards for admissions have been verified by the director of student services.
   • School placements must have the approval of the Office of Student Services and the building administration.

Expectations

1. Exchange Student
   • Exchange students must agree to abide by the policies and regulations of the School District of Lincoln and of the high school they are attending and are subject to the same policies as local students.  Exchange students will familiarize themselves with information contained in the Responsibilities of Students.
   • International exchange students will be assigned a grade placement as determined by the Office of Student Services.  Student class schedules will be determined as appropriate by the building principal or designee.  Grade placement will be based upon the District’s criteria for students transferring from non-approved schools.
   • Exchange students are expected to enroll for a full year and successfully carry a full class schedule including American History.
   • Transcripts of international students will be evaluated by Lincoln Public Schools personnel to determine total credit earned.
   • All students will receive a certificate of attendance.
   • If an international exchange student wishes to receive a high school diploma, the student must make application to the Office of Student Services and the building principal prior to the beginning of the school year.  To receive a diploma, the student must fulfill all of the District’s regular high school graduation requirements.  Exchange students completing the graduation requirements may participate in graduation ceremonies.
2. Sponsoring Organization Representative
   • Local representatives must communicate anticipated changes in student enrollment or concerns regarding the exchange student with the counseling and/or administrative staff of the school attended by the student.
3. Lincoln Public Schools
   • The Lincoln Public Schools will grant tuition-free status to international exchange students who are participants in programs administered by approved sponsoring agencies or programs and whose enrollment has been approved by the Office of Student Services.