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 supplement and enrich class content by providing learning experiences outside the schools which could not otherwise be accomplished within the classroom.

For purposes of this policy, a field trip shall be defined as any planned trip by one or more students away from District premises, which is under the supervision of a professional staff member and is an integral required 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 shall approve those field trips and other District-sponsored trips which are planned to keep students out of the District for two (2) nights or longer or out of the State with the exception of State and National competitions.

The Superintendent or designee shall approve all other such trips.

Students may be charged fees for District-sponsored trips and/or field trips but no student shall be denied participation for financial inability for field trips, 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.

M.C.L.A. 380.1282, 380.1331

Revised 6/8/09
Revised 11/22/10