No. 5143.1

STUDENTS

Series 5000

Student Field Trips

Policy

The Board of Education recognizes the value and educational importance of group field trips.  Such trips shall be permitted to the extent that they provide the most effective means of accomplishing objectives related to given aspects of the curricular and co-curricular program.  Field trips should be considered as a method of instruction and planned as such with definite objectives determined in advance.

Transportation for field trips shall be restricted to school vehicles, those belonging to the commercial carrier contracted by the District, or a private vehicle for which approval has been granted by the Principal and/or Superintendent.

Single Day Field Trips USING GROUND TRANSPORTATION ONLY Within Connecticut and one-day field trips with no overnight stay out of state

The Principal of each school shall be responsible for recommending all requests for single day field trips within the State and single day field trips using ground transportation only with no overnight stay out of State and shall be responsible for making travel arrangements through the carrier.  Proposals for such trips shall be submitted to the Superintendent or his/her designee at least two weeks prior to the date of the trip.  Single day field trips within Connecticut and single day field trips using ground transportation only with no overnight stay out of State shall require approval of the Superintendent, or his/her designee, upon recommendation of the Principal.

Field Trips OF MORE THAN ONE DAY DURATION ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES

When the cost of field trips of more than one day duration anywhere in the United States exceeds $250 per student, if possible at least two contract proposals must be obtained.  Proposals for field trips of more than one day duration anywhere in the United States shall be submitted for approval to the Superintendent no later than two months prior to the proposed date of departure.  Proposals for such trips shall be based upon a written recommendation by the building principal which shall include the following information:

1.

A statement of the educational reasons and the educational values that will accrue as a result of the trip as well as the:

a.

Curricular goals of the trip;

b.

Pre-trip activities in subject area(s);

c.

Student activities on proposed trip;

d.

Follow-up activities in subject area(s).

2.

Dates of departure and return;

3.

A statement of carrier and other services provided;

4.

A statement of cost for the trip including its relationship to approved budgeted amounts;

5.

The name of the trip coordinator(s) and a statement of the number of chaperones and substitutes needed as a result of the trip.

HIGH SCHOOL Field Trips Involving OUTside-OF-UNITED STATES Travel

Initial proposals for field trips involving travel to a foreign country shall be submitted to the Board of Education by the Superintendent no later than June 1 of the year prior to the proposed date of departure.  All travel-related costs including those for insurance shall be paid in full by the participants.  Each proposal shall be subject to the appended administrative procedures.

Non-school Sponsored Educational Tours

The Board of Education recognizes that staff members in their individual capacities may conduct on their own initiative, educational trips involving the participation of students.  The Board of Education neither sanctions nor prohibits such activities, nor does it assume any responsibility for them.  School facilities and school time shall not be used by staff members to promote or solicit such non-sanctioned activities.

Approved:

12

January

1981

Revision Approved:

11

June

1984

Revision Approved:

23

April

1990

Revision Approved:

27

April

1998

Revision Approved:

10

January

2000

Revision Approved:

10

November

2003

Revision Approved:

27