Section:6000 Instruction
Policy Name:REGULATION: Educational Tours/Field Trips
Policy Number:6153.1 REG
Date Approved:10/10/1989
Last Revised:1/06/2006


Board of Education approval is required prior to taking students on out-of-state field trips and trips or tours involving an overnight stay. Staff members proposing field trips or tours must adhere to the regulations in order to secure approvals in advance of the proposed trip or tour.

Single Day Field Trips

Teachers proposing a field trip must complete a "Field Trip/Tour Request" form outlining the educational goals and activities of the trip, time frame, student-chaperone ratio, itinerary, and costs. Such form shall be completed no later than 30 days prior to the proposed in-state trip, and no later than 60 days prior to the proposed out-of-state or overnight tour.

Teachers proposing a field trip must secure completed "Field Trip Permission" forms from each participant no later than one week prior to the trip.

Teachers and administrators shall work together to ensure that no child is excluded from a field trip due to financial hardship.

The principal will be responsible for ensuring that all Board of Education policies and administrative procedures are followed.

The principal and his/her school leadership team will be responsible for reviewing the proposed field trip and will forward a recommendation to the Superintendent. Such recommendation shall include a determination of the impact on instruction that the trip will have.

Trip organizers must secure written assurances of the safety of their equipment and drivers from any bus company other than that used by the district to transport students to and from school.

Field trips must be connected to the curriculum and provide learning opportunities for students. Therefore, every effort shall be made to include all students.

Overnight Tours

Teachers proposing a school sponsored overnight tour must complete a "Field Trip/Tour Request" for outlining the educational goals of the tour, time frame, student-chaperone ratio, itinerary, and costs. Such form shall be completed no later than 60 days prior to the proposed tour.

Teachers proposing a school sponsored tour must secure completed "Field Trip Permission" forms from each participant no later than three weeks prior to the tour.

No student or employee may participate in such a tour unless he/she has accident and health insurance coverage protecting against bodily injury, disability or death while participating in the tour.

Each student participating in the tour must provide a notarized Emergency Treatment waiver signed by the parent/guardian.

The principal will be responsible to see that all Board of Education policies and administrative procedures are followed.

The principal and his or her school leadership team will be responsible for reviewing tours that will require more than one school day and/or be held out of state and will forward a recommendation concerning all suggested tours to the superintendent for review. Such recommendation will include a determination of the impact on instruction that the tour will have.

Trip organizers must secure written assurances of the safety of their equipment and drivers from any bus company other than that used by the district to transport students to and from school.

Non-School Sponsored Tours

The teacher, acting as a private agency, must advise the school of intent to plan such tours.

Students will not be contacted during regular school hours. The principal shall approve a limited number of meetings related to the proposed education tour to be held in the school building. Such meetings shall not take place during the school day.

No pressure of any kind will be exerted on students to influence their participation.

Clear and definitive statements from agents must accompany all materials and literature advising the principal that the school is not, in any way, sponsoring or participating in the educational tour activity.

The teacher acting as a private agency must file a list of participants sixty days in advance of the intended trip in order to afford the school an opportunity to advise parents that the school is not sponsoring or participating in the educational tour.

Such tours may not take place while school is in session.

Forms

Field Trip/Tour Request Form
Field Trip Permission-Emergency Treatment Waiver