Expectations for High School and
Interscholastic Sports
The exchange program is not guaranteed placement in a certain grade
level, or that transferable credit will be granted, or that a diploma
will be awarded at the end of the academic program. No guarantee is
made to the student with regard to participation n interscholastic
sports. Eligibility is at the discretion of each high school.
Expectations for Host Family
Participation:
1) All
American Host Families are volunteers and receive no compensation for
having students live in their homes . Host Families participate in
the exchange program for cross-cultural enrichment. Fees paid to ACE
are used for administrative, insurance and supervisory costs. No
monies are given to families.
2) No
guarantee is made with regard to placement in a particular region of
the U.S. or with a particular type of host family. Local
representatives carefully screen and select host families to
participate in the ACE program. Participating exchange students are
required to adjust to the policies and lifestyle of their family as
long as it is reasonable.
3) Students
must never borrow money from the Host Family or any other source.
Natural parents must furnish adequate spending money which will cover
the expense of student’s school materials, toiletries, entertainment,
transportation, school lunches, etc. Natural parents should provide
their student with $250-300 per month. Student must pay for all
personal medical bills (not covered by provided insurance) and long
distance telephone charges. If a student leaves a Host Family and has
any outstanding debts, the student’s biological family will be
responsible for payment of these debts.
Biological Family Visits and Student
Travel While Participating in the ACE Program:
1) As
visits by natural parents during the program may seriously jeopardize
the participant’s success in the exchange program, ACE strongly
discourages parental visits during the first 6 months of the program
year. Visits may only occur during the last month of the program year
and must have prior permission from the ACE main office.
2) Students
may not have friends or sibling from home visit at any time during
program participation.
3) ACE
strongly discourages exchange students from making or receiving
frequent telephone calls or faxes to or from natural parents or
friends at home. Frequent letter writing is encouraged and has been
found to be beneficial.
Ace Rules Regarding Driver’s Education/Driving a Motorized Vehicle:
1) Students
may not drive any car, motorcycle or other motorized vehicle.
Participation in classroom Driver’s Education and the acquisition of a
driver’s license is not guaranteed.
2) An
exception to rule #1 may be driving while accompanied by a licensed
instructor as a part of a Driver’s Education course. Permission from
an ACE Area Coordinator must be obtained before participation in a
Driver’s Education program. The cost of any driving course must be
paid by the student.
3) The
student may not use the Host Family’s car for driving or driving
practice at any time.
4) If
a driver’s license is obtained by the student, it may only be during
the final month of the program year and the license must be
surrendered to the ACE Area Coordinator until the student departs the
U.S. It is illegal to drive a car in the U.S. without being in
possession of a driver’s license.
All Other ACE Rules:
1) The
student is participating in a high school exchange program. The
student must be enrolled in high school as a Full Time student.
Three-fourths of their classes must consist of academic subjects; the
remaining classes may be electives chosen by the student. The student
must maintain at least a “C” average, with no “F” grades and no
official complaints from their school. The student’s academic
behavior and attitude must be exemplary.
2) Drinking
alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, is illegal for persons
under the age of 21 in most states. All illegal use, purchase, or
possession of alcohol, drugs, or other harmful controlled substances
is prohibited.
3) Students
must abide by all local, state and federal laws. If a student breaks
any of these laws, the program sponsorship will be revoked and the
student will be sent home per USIA regulations.
4) Students
must comply with all reasonable rules of the Host Family and must keep
the Host Family informed of their whereabouts and when they will
return home.
5) Travel
outside the local area, other than with the host family, requires
written permission from host parents and authorization by the
student’s ACE Area Coordinator. ACE must always be advised of travel
plans, including a phone number where the student can be reached.
Travel outside the country will require re-entry arrangements
before leaving the host country and must be approved by ACE.
6) Students
are not allowed to hitch-hike.
7) It
is illegal for anyone under 18 years of age to purchase or use tobacco
in the U.S. If a student is 18 or over and does smoke then they must
comply with the smoking restrictions imposed by the Host Family.
Regardless of age, if a student stated in their application that they
do not smoke, then they must not smoke during their stay.
8) Students
are not allowed to take a job during their stay. The only exceptions
are occasional jobs such as yard-work or baby-sitting for which a
social security number is not needed. Any such job must not interfere
with school work and is only allowed with the Host Family’s
permission.
9) Students
must abide by all decisions of ACE, its Area Coordinators and their
Host Families.
10) Students
are to arrive and depart on the dates set by ACE. If arrangements are
to be made to change the dates of the ticket, the student will be
responsible for any fees involved in changing the dates for whatever
reason. Changes in ticket dates must be approved in advance by ACE.
Student’s flight ticket must be given to their ACE Area Coordinator
upon arriving in the U.S. as required by the U.S. Government. Their
ticket will be returned prior to departure.
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