Foreign Students Enrolled in Public School Districts

Nonimmigrant Students

A nonimmigrant is someone admitted to the U.S. temporarily for a specific purpose. The length of stay varies from months to years. Visas in this group include the following categories:

• F-1 Student Visa
• J-1 Foreign Exchange Student Visa
• Other various classifications of workers, entertainers and athletes, representatives of foreign governments, employees of international organizations, etc., and their spouses and children.

F-1 Student Visa

The F-1 student visa includes academic students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, other academic institutions, and in language training. School districts become aware of these students during the visa application process.

• A foreign student residing in the district is considered a resident and is entitled to enroll in the district (Plyler v. Doe). The student must meet the same residency requirements as any other student entering the school system. The student must either have a parent or guardian (or the student, if at least 18 years old) living in the district or must be living with a relative for the purpose of a suitable home to be considered a resident.
• The school district would determine the rate of tuition (full unsubsidized per capita cost) to be charged and provide a receipt upon payment by the student prior to the student’s issuance of a visa.
• The school district, upon request, should issue the Form I-20AB, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.
• The aggregate period of the visa status at a school may not exceed 12 months.
• The student may attend grade 9, 10, 11, or 12.
• A resident student may be counted in membership for purposes of state aid.
• A student with a high school diploma, or its equivalent, may NOT be counted in membership for state aid purposes.¹

Note: Students visiting the district for a short time during the count period (such as three weeks) may not be claimed for full membership.

J-1 Foreign Exchange Student Visa

Foreign students issued a J-1 exchange student visa are sponsored by a formal student exchange program. The purpose is to improve the foreign student’s knowledge of American culture and language through active participation in family, school and community life.

• Attorney General Opinion No. 6316, states that “a foreign exchange student is a resident of the school district in which the host family with whom the student lives is resident and the student may attend the public school thereof without payment of tuition.”
• A resident student may be counted in membership for purposes of state aid.
• A student with a high school diploma, or its equivalent, may NOT be counted in membership for state aid purposes.
  Additional information is available at www.exchanges.state.gov.

Immigrant Students

Individuals admitted to the U.S. as immigrants are lawful permanent residents. They are usually in possession of an Alien Registration Card, Form 1-551, commonly referred to as a “green card.”

• A student’s immigration status is not a permissible basis for denying admission to a public school (Plyler v. Doe). The student must meet the same residency requirements as any other student entering the school system. The student must either have a parent or

1 A high school diploma or its equivalent (e.g., a secondary school completion certificate) is considered a high school diploma regardless of the country in which it was obtained.