Instruction DRAFT for 1st reading/revision
Administrative Regulation 6153 - SCHOOL-SPONSORED TRIPS
All planned trips away from school grounds, including outdoor education programs, are subject to this regulation.
Students must have written parental permission in order to participate in trips requiring transportation. (Education Code 35350) The district shall provide an appropriate grade level alternative educational experience for students whose parents/guardians do not wish them to participate in a trip. All students shall have on file an annual signed permission form for walking trips within the community.
Safety and First Aid
1. While conducting a trip, the teacher, employee or agent of the school shall have the school's first aid kit in his/her possession or immediately available. (Education Code 32040, 32401) The kit shall include medically accepted bee sting remedies.
2. Whenever trips are conducted in areas known to be infested with poisonous snakes:
a. The first aid kit taken on the trip shall contain medically accepted snakebite remedies. (Education Code 32043)
b. The trip shall include a teacher, employee or agent of the school who has completed a first aid course which is certified by the American Red Cross and which emphasizes the treatment of snakebites. (Education Code 32043)
Supervision
1. A copy of each student’s emergency card and trip permission form signed by parent/guardian must accompany the student on the trip.
2. Students on approved trips are under the jurisdiction of the Governing Board and subject to school rules and regulations.
3. Teachers or other certificated personnel shall accompany students on all trips and shall assume responsibility for their proper conduct.
4. Before the trip, teachers shall provide any adult chaperones who may accompany the students with clear information regarding their responsibilities.
5. Before transporting students on any field trip or activity, drivers shall register with the District by completing all driver information forms.
6. Chaperones shall be 21 years of age or older.
7. Chaperones shall be assigned a prescribed group of students and shall be responsible for the continuous monitoring of these students' activities, with a minimum ratio of one adult to ten children. Age/grade level of students and nature of the trip shall be considered in determining the appropriate ration.
8. Teachers and chaperones shall not consume alcoholic beverages, use tobacco products or use controlled substances while accompanying and supervising students on a trip.
(cf. 3513.3 - Tobacco, Alcohol, Drug-Free)
(cf. 3541.1 - School-Related Trips)Funding - No student shall be prevented from making a trip because of a lack of sufficient funds. No trip shall be authorized if any student would be excluded from participation because of a lack of sufficient funds. (Education Code 35330)
Trip Approval
1. Principal and staff shall periodically review and coordinate grade level field trips to ensure that children have a variety of experiences and to avoid unnecessary repetition.
2. Teachers planning a trip shall make a request in writing to the principal at least 15 school days prior to the date desired. Whenever practical, an alternate date should also be listed. The purpose of the trip and its relation to the course of study shall be stated in the request.
3. The principal shall approve or disapprove the request and notify the teacher. If the trip is disapproved, the principal should state the reasons (i.e. relevancy to curriculum, distance traveled v. time at location, number of trips taken).
4. Parents should be notified at least 10 school days prior to a trip.
5. Principals or teachers may exclude from the trip any student whose presence on the trip would pose a safety or disciplinary risk, or may require a parent/guardian to accompany student.
6. Principal shall not approve, or may cancel, activities which they consider to be inherently dangerous to students or to pose unacceptable, unmitigated risks.
Extended Trips
An extended trip (overnight experience) may be offered when the following conditions are met:
- The rationale for providing an extended trip and its itinerary must be submitted to the school principal for review and approval prior to Board submission.
- The following information must be submitted to the principal regarding the proposed trip:
a. Age level appropriateness
b. Explicit curriculum with clear objectives and outcomes
c. Organization plan, including number of chaperons and their responsibilities
d. Cost of trip, with cost to families for outdoor education not to exceed the average daily cost of Marin County Office of Education program
e. Facilities
f. Mode of transportation
g. Distance/time on trip (not to exceed five [5] days)
h. Comprehensive plan for evaluation of trip
I. Emergency plan
- With principal approval, the proposal shall be submitted for approval at a Board meeting at least one (1) month prior to the date of the trip.
- Expectations to time limits listed above subject to Superintendent approval.
Outdoor Education Program
Fifth grade classes are encouraged to attend an outdoor overnight education program. Fifth grade teachers are encouraged to attend with their classes.
All regulations of Extended Trips as outlined above shall be followed.
In addition, the goals of the fifth grade Outdoor Environmental Education Program are:
1. To enhance the fifth grade and State environmental education curriculum.
2. To develop a sense of community.
3. To develop self-discipline and consideration in a group living experience.
4. To apply learning in an activity-centered environment that provides “real life” experience.
Trips Which Include Swimming or Wading
1. No swimming or wading shall be allowed on trips unless planned and approved in advance.
2. When wading in the ocean, bay, river or other body of water as part of a planned, supervised outdoor education activity, teachers shall provide for a number of chaperones to exceed the normal one to 10 ration and shall instruct both chaperones and students of the real and potential risks inherent in such activities and the precautions necessary for their safety.
3. Swimming Activities
A. Parents/guardians must provide written permission for the student to swim and must indicate the student's swimming ability.
B. Owners of private pools must provide a certificate of insurance, designating the district as an additional insured, for not less than $1 million/per occurrence liability coverage
C. Lifeguards must be designated for all swimming activities. If lifeguards are not provided by the pool owner or operator, the principal shall ensure their presence. Lifeguards must be Red Cross certified or equivalent and must be at least 21 years old.
D. The ratio of adult chaperones to students in grades 6-8 shall be at least one to 10. In grades 4-5 this ratio shall be one to eight. In grades K-3, this ration shall be one to four.
E. Specific supervisory responsibilities shall be determined in advance to accommodate the varying swimming abilities of students. These responsibilities shall be clarified in writing and reviewed verbally before the trip.
F. Emergency procedures shall be included with written instructions to adult chaperones and staff.
G. Staff and chaperones assigned to supervise students must wear swimsuits and know how to swim.
H. The principal may require students to wear flotation devices, depending upon their age and swimming ability.
I. A buddy system or other means of surveillance shall be arranged in advance and strictly enforced during swimming activities.
Regulation approved: 2/12/96; revised:
MILL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT - Mill Valley, California