8460 - Field Trips

Policy: Field Trips	Policy Number: 8460
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 10/14/2020
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 09/16/2020	Date of Next Review: 07/28/2023
Replacement of Policy Number: 8460

The Board of Education recognizes that field trips are an educationally sound and important ingredient in the instructional program of the schools.  
 
For purposes of this policy, a field trip shall be defined as any journey by a group of students away from the school premises, under the supervision of a teacher, or administrator, which is an integral part of an approved course of study and conducted for the purpose of affording a first-hand educational experience not available in the classroom.  

Students/Staff/Volunteers should recognize the privileges of participation.  It is expected that they will conduct themselves in a manner that will gain the maximum advantage of such experience and show them to be representatives of which their school and community can be proud.
 
Field trips are a part of the curriculum of the schools, and student/staff/volunteer conduct and attendance on field trips are governed by the same rules that govern regular classroom activities.  The School System shall obtain written parental or guardian permission for students going on school-sponsored field trips.

Field trips shall, upon district approval, be provided within the limits of safety constraints and the ability of the district’s financial resources to support such undertakings.  Procedures shall be followed which integrate out of district trips with the school district calendar and curricula requirements.  All reasonable steps will be taken to protect the health and safety of participants.
 
The Superintendent shall prepare procedures for the operation of a field trip activity.  Field trip support shall be determined annually by the Board during its budget deliberations.  Regardless of the fiscal support for field trips, the rules of the School District for approval and conduct of such trips shall apply.
 
The Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools reserve the right to deny and to exercise judgment to cancel field trips, which have received prior approval, if they (Board of Education and Superintendent) deem that existing conditions could place students, staff,  and volunteers of the district in serious physical, mental or emotional jeopardy, or extenuating circumstances.