Roles and Responsibilities

• Receiving and processing student applications

• Matching students with suitable applicants from abroad

• Overseeing the hosting period in Ontario

• Organizing the period away for Ontario students

• Providing students and families with support and a point of contact should issues arise

• Providing schools with support and a point of contact for any questions or concerns

• Providing necessary insurance coverage

• Assuming all liability and risk

• Helping ensure participating students are following school policies, procedures and protocols

• Providing school boards with a list of participating students

Ontario students who are participating in an exchange have an obligation to support their exchange partner, both at home and at school. They should help ensure that the visiting student feels welcome while at school, and this may include working with them in class, as appropriate. 

The exchange partner also has responsibilities while they are attending your school, and this includes:  

• Practising their English as much as possible

• Becoming involved with classroom activities

• Participating in school events and activities, including field trips and clubs

• Attending class daily unless there is an illness 

• Ensuring that all absences are reported to the office

• Taking opportunities to share insights into their culture and customs

ISE is a non-profit organization with official partnership agreements with most school boards in Ontario. We work closely with schools and school boards to facilitate mutually beneficial student exchange experiences. 

We make the exchange experience as seamless as possible and are available to support schools and classroom teachers with any questions or concerns that may arise during the process. We thank our supporting schools for helping to promote and support this worthwhile initiative.

Our affiliated schools and boards help support ISE exchange programs by: 

• Supporting Ontario students in completing credit requirements when they are abroad

• When possible, support exchange students by adding them to the timetable of the student they are visiting

• Taking exchange student attendance, for safety reasons

• Sharing digital & print promotional material with students

• Inviting ISE into schools for information sessions

• Exempting exchange students from payment of tuition fees

• Sign off on the school approval form in support of the exchange

We know that every educator has different ways of facilitating teaching and learning in their classroom. Our goal is to offer some suggestions to help make the experience beneficial for you, the exchange students, and all the students in your classroom.

Here are some suggestions for a smooth transition: 

• Ask for designated volunteers in class who may be willing to support the student when needed

• Allow the student to practice their English as much as possible

• Help the student become involved with classroom activities

• Encourage the student to participate in school events and activities, including field trips and clubs

• Understand that even though exchange students may have had significant English instruction, it still may take them a while to adjust to a completely English classroom environment

• Consider inviting visiting students to share connections with what you are teaching and how it may be similar or different to their experiences in their country

• Recognize that visiting students are also expected to keep up with classwork from their home country while they are here. Since no grades are being offered for your work and classroom activities, any flexibility you provide is appreciated

• Don’t hesitate to reach out to the host family and/or ISE if you have any questions or concerns