American Academic & Cultural Exchange

Countries/Areas Served: 16 (Albania, Australia, Brazil, China, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Yugoslavia) Number of Participants, 1998-99: 67 (65 inbound; 2 outbound) Not-for-Profit Corporation--Established 1993

American Academic and Cultural Exchange, Inc. was founded on the premise that positive personal experience helps dissolve divisive geographical, cultural and political barriers, leads to greater human understanding and world peace. AACE provides opportunities for teenagers from many countries around the world to live with a host family in the United States while attending high school. Conversely, high school students from the United States live with host families and attend schools abroad. AACE believes that the enduring bonds that develop help bring the many diverse cultures of our world closer together into one global community.

AACE was founded with the expressed purpose of offering unique individualized and personal service to students, host families and host schools. AACE focuses on close and careful student and family selection. AACE emphasizes academic opportunities through public and private school placements. AACE places high priority on frequent and close communications with families, schools and students.

The entire staff of AACE, beginning with the personally involved officers and directors are committed to insuring that each student, family and school involved with the exchange process has the optimal opportunity for a pleasant, educational and rewarding experience. Students are placed only in localities and states where professionally trained and experienced adult AACE representatives are available.

School Year Abroad Program U.S. students, age 15 to 18, travel abroad for 10 months, during which time they live with a host family and attend school. Orientation and counseling are provided before departure and after arrival in host country. Average cost to participants is $3,800 excluding travel and insurance.

School Year Program in the United States Foreign students, age 15 to 18, live with a host family and attend school for the academic year. Orientations and supervision are provided. English proficiency, academic interest and teacher recommendations are required. Average cost to participants is $3,800 excluding travel and insurance. Virginia Links: Russian Teacher Exchange: Teachers from Virginia spend 2 weeks in October team-teaching with Russian teachers in various grade levels in the Moscow Region of Russia. Teachers from Moscow, Russia, spend 2 weeks in April team-teaching with the same U.S. teachers in various grade levels in Virginia. U.S. teachers who participate live in the home of their Russian host teacher in October and reciprocate by hosting the Russian teacher in their home in April. U.S. teachers are given pre-visit orientations and follow-up assistance to work with Russian exchange students in the U.S. upon their return. No knowledge of Russian is required. Teachers are responsible for airfare and insurance.

Summer Program in Russia U.S. students, age 15 to 18, live with a host family during a two-week visit to Russia in August. U.S. high school teachers chaperone the students. Academic links are established between U.S. and Russian students, teachers, and schools as a part of the experience. Academic and cultural experiences are planned while in Russia.

Last updated:    November 1999

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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