I. A foreign exchange student may be enrolled in a comprehensive Sarasota County high school provided that the student:

A. Is at least fifteen (15) years of age but has not attained the age of eighteen and one/half (18 ½) years of age at the time of enrollment and has not graduated high school. Proof of age must be documented by a birth certificate or passport.

B. Is sponsored by a program approved by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET).

C. Has a local representative for the CSIET approved program who resides in Sarasota County.

D. Will be living with an American host family that resides in the assigned school’s attendance zone, and has been approved by the sponsoring program, and is not the area representative of the sponsoring organization.

E. Shall gain legal entry into the United States with a J-1 Exchange Visa.

F. Provides an academic transcript of at least two (2) years from the home school with English translation.

G. Provides evidence of sufficient English proficiency to function successfully in the academic level in which he/she is enrolled.

H. Meets immunization requirements in accordance with Florida statutes.

I. Has health, accident and liability insurance coverage that is valid in the United States.

II. The sponsoring organization of a foreign exchange student must complete all of the District’s registration/application forms.

III. Students shall be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis, if there is available capacity at the school, with approval of the Superintendent or designee.

IV. Because they do not have attendance boundaries, acceptance into a district special school (Pine View, Suncoast Polytech, or Sarasota Virtual Academy) shall require approval of the Superintendent.

V. A student shall be enrolled for a complete school year [two (2) semesters].

VI. Students enrolled through the Foreign Exchange Program will not be eligible to receive a diploma from a Sarasota County School.

VII. The student shall be subject to the Code of Student Conduct, and repeated violations could result in the withdrawal of the foreign exchange student.

VIII. The sponsoring organization must acknowledge the availability of resources to cover all expenses for the student, including school lunches.

IX. Eligibility for participation in athletics shall be consistent with Florida High School Athletic Association and School Board rules.

X. Applications for the Foreign Exchange Student Program will be accepted beginning in the spring prior to the school year of intended enrollment.

XI. Acceptance into a school as a foreign exchange student does not guarantee acceptance into a magnet or specialized program at that school. Students must also meet the eligibility criteria, guidelines, and timelines specified by the program of interest.

XII. If a foreign exchange student has a change in host family placement due to circumstances beyond their control, the sponsor organization shall try to find another host family within the same attendance zone, otherwise the new host family shall be responsible for transportation of the student to and from school and any before or after school activities they are a part of.

XIII. The Superintendent or designee through the Office of School Choice and Charter Schools shall approve the admission of each foreign exchange student.

XIV. Students seeking entrance into a Charter School must follow the individual Charter School’s application and admissions procedures.

XV. The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures for implementing the foreign exchange student program.