| DeWitt Public Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2340 - FIELD AND OTHER DISTRICT-SPONSORED TRIPS
The Board of Education recognizes that field trips, when used for teaching and learning integral to the curriculum, are an educationally sound and important ingredient in the instructional program of the schools. Properly planned and executed field trips should:
| A. | supplement and enrich classroom procedures by providing learning experiences in an environment outside the schools; | |
| B. | arouse new interests among students; | |
| C. | help students relate school experiences to the reality of the world outside of school; | |
| D. | bring the resources of the community - natural, artistic, industrial, commercial, governmental, educational - within the student's learning experience; | |
| E. | afford students the opportunity to study real things and real processes in their actual environment; | |
| F. | have received approval by completing the Approval to Plan |
For purposes of this policy, a field trip shall be defined as any planned journey by one or more students away from District premises, which is under the supervision of a professional staff member and an integral part of a course of study.
Other District-sponsored trips shall be defined as any planned, student—travel activity which is approved as part of the District's total educational program.
The Board of Education shall review approval prior to those field trips and other District-sponsored trips which are planned to keep students out of the District overnight or longer or out of the State except as outlined below.
The Superintendent shall approve all other such trips including out of state, out of the District over night or longer for the following purposes:
| A. | participation of an athletic team if the team has qualified for and is competing for a regional or state title; | |
| B. | travel resulting from a specific opportunity for a student group to perform at a national event (i.e. participation in a major parade or festival); | |
| C. | participation in travel connected with exchange programs partnerships with business, national foundations (i.e. Close Up) to the extent such travel falls within the guidelines outlined above. |
Students may be charged fees for District-sponsored trips but no student shall be denied participation for financial inability, nor shall nonparticipation be penalized academically.
Students on all District-sponsored trips remain under the supervision of this Board and are subject to the District's administrative guidelines.
The Board does not endorse, support, or assume liability in any way for any staff member, volunteer, or parent of the District who takes students on trips not approved by the Board or Superintendent. No staff member may solicit students of this District for such trips within the facilities or on the school grounds of the District without permission from the Superintendent. Permission to solicit neither grants nor implies approval of the trip. Such approval must be obtained in accordance with the District's Administrative Guidelines for Extended Trips.
The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines for the operation of both field and other District-sponsored trips, including athletic trips, which shall ensure:
| A. | the safety and well-being of students; | |
| B. | parental permission is sought and obtained before any student leaves the District on a trip; | |
| C. | each trip is to be properly planned, and integrated with the curriculum, evaluated, and followed up by appropriate activities which enhance its usefulness; | |
| D. | the effectiveness of field trip activities is assessed upon field trip completion in terms of demonstrated learning; | |
| E. | each trip is properly monitored; | |
| F. | student behavior while on all field trips complies with the Student Code of Conduct and on all other trips complies with an approved code of conduct for the trip; | |
| G. | a copy of each student's Emergency Medical Authorization Form is in the possession of the staff member in charge; | |
| H. | non-staff chaperons have received orientation prior to departure. |
In any instance in which the itinerary of a trip is altered, the professional staff member in charge shall notify the administrative superior immediately.
School vehicles are not to be used if the distance traveled is excessive.
M.C.L.A. 380.1282
Revised 11/8/99
Revised 4/10/00