The Superintendent shall establish regulations and procedures for the administration of this program to ensure that the acceptance and placement of international exchange students and/or J-1 visa students will be a beneficial experience for all involved.
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1.
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for approval by the Vernon Parish School System, international student exchange programs and/or J-1 visa students shall meet the following minimum requirements:
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A.
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The sponsoring agency must be in good standing with the Council for Standards on International Educational Travel and be a United States Information Agency designated organization.
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B.
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The sponsoring agency must have a local representative who resides within Vernon Parish and who is available to meet with the school personnel, the student, and the host family.
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C.
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The sponsoring agency must ensure that the host family, as well as the agency local representative, is of good reputation and character by securing two (2) personal references for each host family and the local representative from the school or community, attesting to the representative and the host family's good reputation and character.
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D.
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The sponsoring agency must ensure that the host family is capable of providing a comfortable and nurturing home environment.
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E.
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The sponsoring agency must submit an annual application for approval to the Parish Director of Curriculum. Applications shall be due by February 1 for consideration for the following school year.
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F.
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As part of the application process, the local representative of the sponsoring agency must sign a written agreement to abide by all policies and procedures of the Vernon Parish School Board.
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2.
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STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
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A.
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The student must reside with a legal adult resident of Vernon Parish.
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B.
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The student must possess a J-1 visa.
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C.
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The student must not have graduated from high school or its equivalent in his/her home country.
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D.
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The student must not have spent previous time in the United States as part of a Foreign Exchange Program.
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E.
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The student must have average or above average grades in his/her home school and must not be receiving special professional assistance to function in the regular academic program.
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F.
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The student must have sufficient knowledge of the English language to produce effective oral and written communication, to use instructional materials and text-books printed in English, and to function in the regular educational program without special professional assistance.
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G.
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The student must submit the following documents to request admission:
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1.
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Proof of English language proficiency. Evidence he/she has successfully completed a minimum of 3 years of English language instruction which includes speaking and listening as well as reading and writing.
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2.
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Evidence of English proficiency as documented by either the Secondary Level English Proficiency Test (SLEP) or the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). A letter of recommendation from an English language teacher documenting the nature of the course and the student's level of proficiency.
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3.
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Official transcript and/or record of prior education from the student's home school and an English translation of the same documents. The records should reflect the number of hours per week the student spent in class, the courses taken and the grades/credits earned. The transcript must be received no later than May 1 of the year the student is applying for acceptance.
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4.
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A copy of his/her health immunization records, translated into English.
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5.
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Evidence of health and accident insurance covering the duration of his/her student visa.
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6.
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The name, address, and phone number(s) of the student's own parents/guardians, the host family, and the local international exchange program representative.
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7.
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A notarized temporary custody agreement between the international exchange student's parents/guardians and the host family and/or exchange organization.
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3.
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ADMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Only exchange students who have met the criteria outlined in the previous section may seek admission to Vernon Parish Schools.
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A.
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All applications and supporting documentation shall be submitted to the Vernon Parish Director of Curriculum by May 1.
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B.
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All applications shall be screened by the Director of Curriculum before they are forwarded for review and approval by the principal of the school where admission is being requested. The Director of Curriculum shall inform the applicant's sponsoring agency in writing of acceptance or rejection by June 30 of the program year. Copies of this notification shall be sent to the principal of the receiving school and to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
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C.
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International exchange students must arrive in time for attendance on the first day of school.
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4.
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EXCHANGE STUDENT STATUS
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A.
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Students will be treated as regular full-time students. Students are responsible for complying with the parish policies and regulations regarding attendance, academic standards, responsibilities and rights, discipline, and graduation requirements.
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B.
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Students must enroll in one English class, and one United States History or Civics class.
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C.
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Students must meet all LHSAA requirements to be eligible for athletics.
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D.
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Students must pay all fees and school incurred expenses that are required of other students enrolled in Vernon Parish Schools.
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E.
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Vernon Parish will not provide students with admission into such programs as Special Education for Handicapped Students, English as a Second Language for students who are not able to function on grade level, nor shall it pay for students to attend other schools or institutions of higher education.
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F.
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Students will not be eligible for valedictory and salutatory awards.
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G.
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At the time of registration the exchange student and his/her host family shall be required to sign a form indicating compliance with all the conditions heretofore outlined.
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5.
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXCHANGE ORGANIZATIONS AND HOST FAMILIES
Exchange organizations and the host families are in loco parentis with respect to adult supervision of the international exchange students. The following are specific responsibilities which the Vernon Parish School District expects these adults to assume.
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A.
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Host family and the local representative for the exchange organization must maintain personal contact with the school and must be available and willing to meet with school personnel when problems or situations require it.
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B.
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If an international exchange student's English proficiency is found to be insufficient to function in the regular instructional program without special professional assistance, the exchange organization and the host family must provide a tutor or make other educational arrangements for the student at their expense.
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C.
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The exchange organization and the host family shall assume the final responsibility for resolving problems including, if necessary, the early return home of the international exchange student because of personal, family or school difficulties which cannot be resolved.
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6.
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EXTENSION OF THE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
The Vernon Parish School Board Policies and Regulations will be applied to all J-1 visa students.
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7.
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SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR DISMISSAL
Exchange organizations, agency local representative, host families, international exchange students, and/or J-1 visa students found to be in violation of any of the Vernon Parish School Board policies and regulations are subject to having their relationship with the School District terminated. Any change in the immigration status of an exchange student will be reported to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services by the Organizations or J-1 visa student's parents or guardians.
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