Dartmouth High School may soon be expanding its cultural horizons with Educatius International.

On Oct. 26, the School Committee was treated to a presentation from Educatius International about implementing a study abroad program in the public school system. Invited by Dr. Bonny Gifford, Dr. Steve Jenkins, a representative for Educatius International, presented the program and its merits.

Educatius International has been operating for 10 years and is the world's leading study abroad program. They represent over 40 countries and the number grows every year. Educatius International accepts over 8,000 students worldwide per year and most choose to come study in the United States.

The study abroad program, if implemented in Dartmouth, would provide foreign students in public school with a one year experience at Dartmouth High School. The program is based on F1 Visas, meaning the tuition would be set by the school and funded by the family. The program would cost no taxpayer money.

Students stay with host families in the visiting country. Host families are not on a rent-a-room basis. Rather, Educatius encourages host families to accept the student into their own family and act as their support system for their stay.

Through Educatius, students get to select their country and school of study, and the school can choose to accept the student.

Once accepted, students, their families and their host families undergo a number of orientations: once before leaving, upon arrival in the host country and once they've started school. Additionally, an international coordinator is selected to “find a host family that meet the needs of the student,” Jenkins said.

The coordinator performs various check-ins with the students and both families. These individuals are held to very high standards and are extremely accessible to their students at most hours of the day.

According to Jenkins, Massachusetts is currently number one in abroad students, followed by California and Florida. Massachusetts is appealing to foreign potential students because it is home to some of the most illustrious universities in the world in close proximity.

Jenkins was deeply impressed with Dartmouth High School's facility and educational system. The school itself is immaculately clean and well-kept, said Jenkins.

"It shows pride in your district," Jenkins said.

Additionally, Dartmouth High School, an honor roll school, is home to 24 different art classes, a number of extracurriculars and athletic programs and AP classes. Though these things may not be especially noteworthy to families within the district, families looking to send their children to the United States value these types of things in a potential host school.

Committee member Dr. Shannon Jenkins expressed some concerns about revenue from year to year in the event of low enrollment years.

"We do not guarantee you that you will get a student, we do not guarantee you that you get 20," Jenkins said. "I never suggest that a school just starting out earmark that money...because it might not be there next year."

Initially there may be variance in enrollment but over time, enrollment levels out and becomes more reliable.

Though the schools establish their own tuition, regulation states tuition cannot exceed the cost of teaching a resident student. Most schools use per-pupil expenditure to determine tuition and then factor costs like advisors, athletic fees and so on.

If the district decides to proceed, in order to implement the study abroad program as soon as possible, Jenkins advised the district to start putting together their application to Educatius International plus $2,300 in government fees to get approved for 2017-2018 year.

Approval for Educatius International will appear on the next agenda. The committee will next meet on Nov. 2 for a dual meeting and on Nov. 9 and Nov. 23.