Study/Field Trips/Excursions/Athletics BP 6153

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The Board of Education believes that study/field trips and excursions are desirable

programs and activities for meeting student needs, as long as they are consistent with the

purposes of the district. Further, the district believes these trips are voluntary regardless

of status as district or non-district-sponsored trips. No pupil shall be excluded from

participating the field trips or excursions because of lack of sufficient funds. Overnight

trips must be pre-approved by the Board prior to the payment of any costs or fees

associated with the trip. All planned trips away from school grounds, including athletic

trips, over-night/long-term trips, single-day trips, and outdoor education programs, are

subject to this policy.

Definitions:

Study/field trips are trips conducted in conjunction with the regular curriculum of the

class. They are preceded and/or followed by district-approved academic instruction. The

terms field trips and study trips are to be used interchangeably.

Study/field trips shall be considered voluntary, though they are also instructive and

planned as such with definite objectives determined in advance.

Excursions are defined as a non-curricular-related voluntary trip, often used as a reward

(i.e., Great America, waterslides, picnics). Excursions need not be preceded or followed

by instruction, though study trip guidelines apply to excursions as stated herein.

District-sponsored trips are defined as those trips sponsored and approved by the

district (Board approves overnight trips for which a student can be credited with

attendance for state apportionment, and/or trips organized/ planned by district staff,

which do not result in any financial or personal gain for any district employees. On

district trips, it is permissible to use school/district supplies, resources, and

communication systems. On non-district-sponsored trips, it is not permissible to use

school/district supplies, resources, and communication systems.

Non-district-sponsored trips are defined as those trips not sponsored by the district and

not Board-approved, for which the district assumes no control and no liability, for which

students cannot be credited with attendance for state apportionment, and/or those that

may or may not result in any financial or personal gain for any district employees.

(Example: Teacher takes students to Washington, D.C., during spring vacation.)

Instruction

Study/Field Trips/Excursions/Athletics BP 6153

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Overnight field trips shall be available for students in grades 4-12. Overnight field trips

for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade must be associated with educational learning programs in history

or science, or they may be to participate in approved competitions. Out of State

competitions should only be scheduled when no comparable competition is available in

California. High school trips to out-of-state, invitational sports tournaments may occur

only once per sport season. Efforts should be made to attend invitational tournaments

held during school holiday breaks to minimize loss of classroom instructional time.

Legal Reference

Education Code

35330 Excursions and field trips

Policy Adopted: February 22, 1984

Policy Revised: May 14, 1997

Policy Revised: January 13, 1999

Policy Revised: December 5, 2001

Policy Revised: November 12, 2003