International Student Exchange Program
Oakland Schools, in partnership with the Student Management Group (SMG), offers local school districts in Oakland County, Michigan, the opportunity to participate in an International Student Exchange Program. This initiative provides high school students an international cultural academic experience, fostering a collaborative partnership between Oakland Schools, SMG, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and participating district high school campuses.
SMG specializes in creating incredible educational and cultural experiences for students worldwide. Oakland Schools partners with SMG to provide participating districts with the placement of foreign exchange students, enriching their academic and cultural environment.
SMG Services
- Recruits prospective students and provides them a pre-departure orientation for their year abroad.
- Works with our participating schools to recruit prospective host families and facilitates an extensive application process, including criminal background checks, interviews, local area representative home visit, hosting orientation, training on understanding cultural differences, and a method for navigating any issues.
- Provides monthly host family stipends of $500/month
- Works with Oakland Schools and our participating high schools.
- Assigns local area representatives to plan arrival orientation within two weeks of the student's arrival.
- Ensures monthly check-ins with the school, student, and host family through the local area representative.
- 24-hour student emergency line available should any urgent issues arise.
Program Information
- This program is tuition-based, and F-1 Visa students can attend a SEVP approved school for one school year. This program does not accept students mid-year.
- Oakland Schools works with the Student Management Group (SMG), which provides our participating districts with the placement of foreign exchange students.
- Students must be eligible for enrollment in High School, Grades 9 through 12.
- SEVP must approve students as F-1 nonimmigrant students enrolling in academic programs at a public high school and reside with a designated host family.
- Districts that enroll students from foreign countries in their schools are permitted to collect the full FTE in addition to receiving a tuition stipend of $4,000.