The Newton-Beijing Jingshan School Exchange Program is the oldest student exchange of public secondary school students between the United States and the People's Republic of China.
Beginning in 1985, through 1989, groups of two to three teachers and four to five students spent a semester living, studying, and working in one another's school community in alternate years.
Each school pays the respective travel expenses, while host families provide room and board.
A Newton North senior created controversy in 2014 when, during his time in China for the exchange, he wrote several notes in the schoolbook of a Chinese middle schooler.
These notes said, "Democracy is for cool kids," "Don't believe the lies your school and government tell you," and "It's right to rebel."