Currently JCPS is the only county in Kentucky that will not allow exchange students in their school for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. EF leaders and Families have tirelessly talked with the JCPS board but have not received an answer for the upcoming school year.

My name is Mia Harris, I'm a student at Atherton High School. I came to the board meeting on May 24th with Sally Cerspo. We came to voice our opinions on the restrictions on Exchange Students in JCPS. As it currently stands Exchange Students are not allowed to come to JCPS schools. Since I didn't get the opportunity to voice my opinion to them, at the board meeting, I wanted to create a platform to receive support.
Firstly, I want to explain my relations to this topic. I’ve had two exchange students stay with me throughout my high school career. Bea was an exchange student from Italy. She stayed with us in 2019-2020, my freshman year. Bea had a rough start with her first host family and wasn’t very trustful of our family and Americans in general. She came to stay with us mid September and we instantly fell in love with her. She became like a big sister to me. She was someone I had admired for her hard work and how dedicated and compassionate she was. Sadly she had to go home in the mist of Covid, when it was the worst in Italy. I will never forget what she said on the plane ride home from spring break, “I’m not ready to go home, i don't want to leave you guys.” I automatically broke down in tears. It felt like i was losing my sister, and my best friend. I also feel like we were separated in a bad situation instead of a planned goodbye.
Secondly is Lucas, who is an exchange student from Japan. He was planning to stay with us this school year, 2021-2022. Because of the current restrictions, Lucas went to a host family in Spencer County. Even with the distance and not much connection anymore we made sure to keep in touch. Lucas and my family would go on trips and travel. We would experience his culture like he experienced ours. It was a true friendship that really grew over this year. He will be going home this Saturday and I feel like I'm losing my best friend and sibling again. I feel like i wasn't given enough time to really meet and understand these students. Mostly because of covid, and also because of the current restrictions.
Lastly, JCPS is the only school county, in Kentucky, that still hasn’t approved Exchange students for this upcoming school year. I know this is mostly selfish but I would like to speak on behalf of the exchange students and host families that we want exchange students in our JCPS schools again. They provide an international aspect, and great strong bonds of family and friendship with the people around them. We plan to host another exchange student this year, however all JCPS residences won't have that opportunity to experience these wonderful and insightful people as it currently stands. I ask you as someone who has exchange students, as friends, as classmates, and even as family members, to please support Exchange students in JCPS schools for our upcoming school year. I really appreciate you taking this matter into consideration and reading this letter, it definitely makes me feel heard.