All trips involving out-of-state or overnight travel shall require the prior approval of the Board. Other trips may be approved by the Superintendent or designee.
Principals shall ensure that teachers develop plans which provide for the safety of students and their proper supervision by certificated 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 ratio of adults to students on school-sponsored trips shall be at least sufficient to ensure the safety of students. If the trip involves water activities, this ratio shall be revised to ensure closer supervision of elementary grade students, appropriate to their ages.
(cf. 3541.1 - School-Related Trips)
(cf. 5143 - Insurance)
Study Trips
In advance of a study trip, teachers shall determine educational objectives which relate directly to the curriculum. Principals shall ensure that teachers develop plans which provide for the best use of students' learning time while on the trip. Teachers also shall provide appropriate instruction before and after the trip.
In addition to school-sponsored field trips, the Board recognizes that a number of non-school sponsored field trips may, from time to time, be planned and executed by groups of students or groups of former students and that such trips may be in part or entirely conducted by individuals connected to the school who are not working in the course and scope of their employment or official association with the district such as being a designated volunteer. While such trips may have considerable value, they may also constitute a significant liability risk to the district because of the impossibility of appropriately controlling and supervising such activities. In the event that district personnel become aware of such activities, the site principal and the Superintendent or his/her designee shall be notified immediately to insure that every attempt shall be made to have individuals involved in coordinating or supervising the trip, as well as trip participants and their parents/guardians, sign the district's "Assumption of Risk for Voluntary Activity - Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement for the Non-District Sponsored Activities." Additionally, the district's guidelines for non-district-sponsored activities shall be followed.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8760 Authorization of outdoor science and conservation programs
32040-32044 First aid equipment: field trips
35330 Excursions and field trips
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
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: http://www.redcross.org
California Association of Directors of Activities: http://www.cada1.org
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
Policy ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 9, 1997 Alhambra, California
revised: July 15, 2008