The School Committee has voted to take the next step in adopting the Educatius International program, which would bring foreign students to Dartmouth High School.

The program was presented to committee members at their last meeting on Oct. 26. Since then, Principal John Gould emailed school staffers, asking for input on the program and its merits. Dr. Bonny Gifford had 35 responses on hand at the meeting, all of them in favor of its implementation.

“All would benefit from being more worldly,” said Gifford, reading from the emails. “Hosting exchange students would be an educational experience for all of us.”

“To me, this is a priceless opportunity in the sense of having diversity in the school,” said Gould. “I think these are going to be students who can get educated, can bring a different perspective and complement our community.”

Educatius International represents more than 40 countries, accepting about 8,000 students worldwide per year. Most choose to study in the United States. The program will provide foreign students a one-year experience at Dartmouth High.

The school district can set a limit for the number of students it can take in. The committee said the number will likely start small and grow over time.

The program is based on F1 Visas, meaning the tuition would be set by the school and funded by the student's family. The program would cost no taxpayer money. Students stay with host families in the visiting country.

Massachusetts is one of the top states in the country participating in this program, with 21 high schools signed up with Educatius International.

Renee Vieria, a high school teacher, did address some concerns early in the meeting regarding the number of students in each classroom and whether the school district would be required to fund services to foreign students with special needs. Gifford said that specialized services would be included in the cost of tuition.

Gifford said she had previously encountered the program at the Nauset school system where she previously worked. When she became superintendent of Falmouth, she brought the program there.

The application process for the school district will take about a year, she said. While the school district is in the application process, officials can start gathering information to include in a brochure. The brochure will be directed at foreign students to entice them to stay in Dartmouth.

Gould said that the diversity of programs the school offers will likely attract students as will the surrounding community.

Students will have to provide transcripts and may be interviewed with school officials over Skype. Gifford said that may be a good way to ensure that students will be a right fit for the high school.

“I’m excited. I was reading some of the comments from the staff. They were enthused about students coming here to enhance the diversity we have here,” said Gifford. “Also, there’s always that opportunity for kids to form lasting relationships with other students and have that continue for their whole life.”

Now that the School Committee has approved the start of the application process, the district can work toward filing the appropriate paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security.