Foreign Exchange Students

Foreign Exchange Students (High School)

GADOE provides LEAs with the flexibility to follow statewide, standardized EL Entrance

Procedures for consideration of foreign exchange students for the EL program. APS elects to

follow the Federal Guidance which includes foreign exchange students in the 'all students'

definition stated in the December 2010 document, Serving Foreign Students, The U.S.

Department of Education advises that foreign exchange students who are identified as Limited

English Proficient (LEP) and enrolled in public elementary or secondary schools in the United

States are covered by the holding in the 1974 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Lau v. Nichols.

Districts must take affirmative steps to help students with LEP overcome language barriers so

that they can participate meaningfully in each district’s education programs. [414 U.S. 563

(1974)]. Atlanta Public Schools adheres to the following protocol for foreign exchange students:

● Foreign exchange students who enroll in APS with a language other than English

indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS) and new Multilingual Statements are

reviewed and screened for EL program eligibility in accordance with APS EL Entrance

procedures.

● If the foreign exchange student is eligible for the EL program, the school must follow the

identification and parent notification protocol and notify the identified host family

guardian.