Foreign Exchange Students

Administrative Rules and Procedures 

1. Foreign exchange students (J-1 Visa) who reside within the District as participants in an exchange program sponsored by an organization approved by the Administration shall be permitted to attend a District high school without paying tuition. (A J-1 Visa is the most common visa for foreign exchange students. The student must be enrolled in a designated exchange program, which is responsible for their compliance with U.S. immigration laws (see #4). The J-1 visa is often issued for up to one year. More information can be found on BridgeUSA.
2. Foreign exchange students must be in grades 9 through 12 and are subject to the same age requirements as other students in the district.
3. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) tracks the status of foreign students in the U.S. The sponsoring organization is responsible for ensuring the students' compliance with all regulations, including visa requirements and documentation.
4. The sponsoring organization must be an Approved Foreign Exchange Program through the Illinois High School Association. 
5. The student must reside with a host family within the attendance boundaries of the appropriate high school. 
6. The student must provide necessary documentation from the exchange program, including acceptance into the exchange program and a transcript of previous academic records. This documentation must be submitted to the school district to ensure eligibility.
7. The student is expected to pay all normal expenses, including general, standard course and extra-curricular activity fees. 
8. Students have rights and privileges afforded to other students, except for the right to a diploma. 
9. To balance the rich experience such a program offers with the responsible use of District resources, the number of exchange students admitted each year is limited to three (3) district-wide. 
10. Privately sponsored exchange students on an F-1 visa may be enrolled if an adult resident of the District has temporary guardianship of the student and the student lives in the guardian's home. Exchange students on an F-1 visa are required to pay tuition at the established District rate. F-1 visa student admission is limited to high schools, and attendance may not exceed 12 months.
11. District 225 administration reserves the right to select foreign exchange participants so as to ensure that individuals
    1. Possess an acceptable level of English proficiency (e.g., ELTIS, TOEFL, or another standardized test)
    2. Represent a variety of countries
    3. Are in good academic standing
12. Exchange students must comply with District immunization requirements. Once admitted, exchange students become subject to all District policies and regulations governing students.
13. Foreign exchange students are protected by federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
14. Foreign exchange students on a J-1 visa shall be treated fairly and equitably with respect to academic opportunities, access to school facilities, and extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, etc.), provided they meet the District's eligibility criteria.
15. Applications for participants must be submitted to the school administration by no later than April 1 of the year prior to the student's intended attendance. The District Educational Team - Student Support will review the submissions and make decisions by the beginning of May. 
16. If the application for admission is approved, the host parent(s) will then submit a pre-registration through the District Enrollment Office.