IHSA Announcements

April 30, 2004

Criteria for Approval of Foreign Exchange Student Programs

Board of Directors' approval of foreign exchange student programs, for purposes of determining the residence eligibility for athletics of foreign exchange students in member schools, is required by Section 3.034.3 of the By-laws. In compliance with this provision, the Board of Directors has determined that only those exchange programs with "full listing" status in the 2004-05 CSIET Advisory List may be approved for the 2004-05 school term. Qualifying programs must submit the following documentation to the IHSA office for approval by the Executive Director:

  1. An outline of the placement process for students, from initial contact to final placement.
  2. A description of the process local or area representatives must follow in the placement of students.
  3. The names, addresses and telephone numbers of all local or area representatives responsible for student placement.
  4. Copies of any and all training materials provided to local or area representatives and documentation that all required training has been completed.
  5. A description of the process used by the program to identify and secure local or area representatives.
  6. A description of the process used by the program and local or area representatives to identify and secure host schools.
  7. A description of the process used by the program and local or area representatives to identify and secure host families.
  8. The procedures for follow up with local or area representatives to ensure that the program's placement process has been followed.
  9. The procedures for post placement follow up with the local or area representatives and the students placed by the program.

Following submission of the documentation described above and any additional documentation and/or investigation deemed necessary by the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall notify the program whether it has been approved.

A complete packet of program application can be obtained by any of the following methods:

  1. The program may call the IHSA Office at (309) 663-6377 to request the materials.
  2. The program may request the materials in writing.  All requests should be directed to Kurt J. Gibson, Assistant Executive Director.
  3. The program may download the application in the Forms area of the IHSA Web site.

Upon completion of the required materials, programs may submit their application to:

Illinois High School Association
c/o Kurt J. Gibson
2715 McGraw Dr.
Bloomington, IL   61704-2715