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J‑1 Visiting Teacher Program

 

The J‑1 Teacher Exchange Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State through the BridgeUSA initiative, enables U.S. schools to host qualified international educators in accredited K–12 settings. As a cultural exchange program, it provides opportunities for teachers to share their language and culture while contributing to U.S. classrooms.

J‑1 teachers enhance learning by bringing global perspectives and supporting multilingual and multicultural education, while also engaging in meaningful cross-cultural exchange with students and communities.

State/District-Level Process

State education agencies and districts work with approved J‑1 sponsors to recruit and support international teachers, ensure alignment with state policies, and implement high‑quality cultural exchange programs.

The J‑1 Teacher Program process involves collaboration among state education agencies, districts, and designated sponsors to recruit, place, and support qualified international teachers. Districts identify staffing needs and work with approved sponsors to recruit and select candidates, while sponsors manage visa processing and federal compliance. State agencies provide guidance and help ensure alignment with policies.

Once teachers are placed, districts support onboarding, monitor progress in coordination with sponsors, and facilitate meaningful cross-cultural exchange throughout the program.

Guest Teacher Training Topics

The following topics and examples can help guide districts and programs in designing effective orientation and professional learning experiences for visiting international teachers.

  • Daily routines of teachers in U.S. schools
  • Typical class schedules, teacher schedules, and school calendars
  • Core academic subjects in the U.S. and China
  • Extracurricular activities and student life
  • Profiles of “typical” American students
  • Teacher professionalism and code of conduct in the U.S.
  • Teacher evaluation and performance frameworks (e.g., TELL, Danielson)
  • Sample third language teaching demonstration (French)
  • Using Can-Do learning statements in the Chinese classroom

Resources

Resources are available to support implementation, including tools such as a Financial Disclosure Form (Ohio exemplar) and a Visiting Teacher Checklist. For additional state-level examples, please refer to Virginia and Ohio.