Academic Year in America

Academic Year in America (AYA) brings international high school students ages 15 to 18½ from over 25 countries to the United States to live with carefully screened and selected American host families for a semester or academic year. These young ambassadors attend the local high school and participate in their host families' social and community life. The aim of the program is two-fold:

• To develop a greater sensitivity and appreciation of American life on the part of international youngsters, and
  
• To stimulate Americans' interest in cultures and languages other than their own.

The AYA program is administered by a full time staff in the Stamford, Connecticut, main office and is supported by a network of over 400 Local Coordinators across the U.S. who monitor and supervise the students and host families. AYA works cooperatively with International Partners from around the world to screen and select the most qualified students for the program.

Students come from over 25 countries, including:

The AIFS Foundation's Academic Year in America program is a member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), a nationally recognized educational organization.

Visit the website at www.academicyear.org