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Board reviews first reading of policy to formalize foreign exchange student enrollment (JFABB)
Summary
Board members discussed a first reading of new policy JFABB that would move international exchange provisions out of the nonresident admission policy; the draft limits exchange students to CSIET-approved sponsors and J-1 visa holders and sets enrollment caps tied to school size.
The Florence School District 1 Board of Trustees received a first reading of a proposed policy, JFABB, that would establish rules for foreign exchange students enrolled through approved agencies.
Policy Committee Chair Miss Hahn summarized the proposal, explaining the district moved international exchange language from the broader nonresident admission policy (JFAB) into a dedicated policy. The draft requires sponsoring agencies to hold full listing status with the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), maintain a local representative within 50 miles of the district, and reapply to the board annually for approval. For the 2024–25 year, the committee recommended waiving the March 1 application deadline because the district will not adopt the policy until after that date.
Under the draft, only students holding J-1 visas would be eligible and applicants must be between ages 16 and 19 and not previously graduated from their home school. Applications would be approved by the superintendent or designee rather than individual high schools. The draft also specifies that host families must reside within the school attendance zone that the exchange student will attend, and that the district is not responsible for host-family placement; students who move from their host family would lose enrollment eligibility.
Miss Hahn also outlined enrollment caps tied to school size: one exchange student for schools of 100–600 students; two for 601–1,200; three for 1,201–1,800; and four for schools with 1,801 and up. Each sponsoring agency may place up to four students districtwide. The draft requires agencies to provide background, medical and academic records and to perform home visits to confirm appropriate living conditions. Extracurricular participation would be allowed subject to principal approval and South Carolina High School League rules; enrollment would be a non‑diploma experience (students may participate in graduation but would not receive a diploma).
Board members asked clarifying questions about cross-district transfers and potential growth near county lines; the superintendent said county planning and demographic shifts will be monitored. No vote was taken — this was a first reading and the policy will return to the board for further consideration.
