Many South Carolina high schools enroll foreign national students who wish to participate in cultural exchange programs or in academic study programs. These foreign and cultural exchange students enter the country under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 (INA) under the auspices of the federal government.
Please note the following:

• The cultural exchange and academic study programs for foreign national students are governed by federal law.
• The South Carolina Department of Education does not coordinate the recruitment or placement of foreign exchange students in South Carolina.
• Participation of high schools in these programs is voluntary.
• Each school district has the autonomy, as allowed by law, to create specific policy, procedures, and guidelines to govern foreign exchange student expectations and opportunities. Graduation eligibility of a foreign exchange student is a local district decision.

External Resources

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Travel. State. U.S. Department of State
• Education USA
• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
• Principles in Support of International Education