Field Trips

SCHOOL-SPONSORED TRIPS

Instruction BP 6153(a)

Excursions and Field Trips

The Board of Trustees recognizes that school-sponsored trips are important components of a student’s development. Besides supplementing and enriching classroom learning experiences, such trips encourage new interests among students, make them more aware of community resources, and help them relate their school experiences to the outside world. The Board believes that careful planning can greatly enhance the value and safety of such trips.

Safety and Supervision

Principals shall ensure that teachers develop plans which provide for the safety of students and their proper supervision by certified staff on all school-sponsored trips. Other school employees and parents/guardians also may participate in this supervision and may be asked to attend preparatory training sessions and/or meetings.

The safety and well-being of students while on excursions and field trips is of paramount importance. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to revoke the district’s authorization of any excursions or field trip anytime students’ safety or well-being may be in jeopardy. In making his/her decision, the Superintendent may solicit a variety of sources, including parents/guardians, the U.S. State Department Advisories, the Center for Disease Control information, the district General Counsel and the American First Aid Association.

The superintendent or principal of any public school shall equip the school with a first aid kit, whenever any pupils of the school are conducted or taken on field trips under the supervision or direction of any teacher in, or employee or agent of, the school.

Rules

All field trips shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Education Code pertaining to excursions and field trips. No student shall be precluded from participating in a field trip or excursion because of lack of sufficient funds. The district shall support efforts of community service groups to supply funds for students in need. This policy shall apply to School-Connected Organizations, as well as all other parent/adult or student based groups.

Education Code 35330, eliminates the prohibition against the use of district funds to pay for the expenses of students participating in field trips or excursions to another state, to the District of Columbia, or to a foreign country.

Pursuant to Education Code 35330, unlike field trips within the state, no transportation allowances will be made by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for out-of-state field trips.
BP 6153(b)

The Board may approve the use of district funds for student expenses for in-state, out-of-state, or out-of-country field trips or excursions when permitted by law. In addition, expenses of instructors, chaperones, and other personnel participating in such trips, as well as incidental expenses for the use of district equipment during the trip, may be paid from district funds. (Education Code 35330)

Associated Student Body (ASB) may accumulate and distribute funds for payments of Board approved school-sponsored trips.

School-sponsored field trips and excursions are to be distinguished from non-school-sponsored trips, defined as any other excursion, trip, tour, cruise, or other venture involving school age pupils that is not District approved and is not supervised by District personnel in the course of their official duties. These are not District field trips or excursions, the District assumes no responsibility or liability for any such activities, and the Superintendent may implement regulations to reinforce this distinction.

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE
8760 Authorization of outdoor science and conservation programs
32040-32044 First aid equipment: field trips
35330 as amended by AB 341 (Ch. 40, Statutes of 2017)
35331 Provision for medical or hospital service for pupils (on field trips)
35332 Transportation by chartered airline
35350 Transportation of students
44808 Liability when pupils not on school property
48908 Duties of pupils; authority of teachers
55220 Title 5 Excursions and Field Trips

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

17540 Travel promoters
17550-17550.9 Sellers of travel
17552-17556.5 Educational travel organizations

Management Resources: WEB SITES

American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org
California Association of Directors of Activities: https://www.cada1.org
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov

Policy SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: November 17, 2008 Chula Vista, California
revised: August 27, 2018
revised: October 22, 2018