SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

8460  -- Instruction

The Board of Education recognizes that field trips extend the educational program beyond the school walls and help support the goals of the Profile of a Shenendehowa Graduate. A field trip is defined as an activity in which students, under the supervision of a District employee, leave their school of attendance to participate in an activity and return at the conclusion of the activity. Field trips help students to be involved citizens, lifelong learners, and appreciate the role of arts in our society. Our Values and Beliefs state that students learn best when methods of instruction are varied and stimulating and when subject matter is relevant to the real world. More specifically, field trips provide opportunities for:

a) Instructional enrichment through alignment with curriculum;

b) Social interaction and development of the "whole child";

c) Celebration of traditional end of year special events;

d) Attendance at, and participation in, community events that cannot be provided to students at school.

Field trips must be approved by the principal prior to detailed planning. The principal shall establish a process for approval of requests for field trips and guidelines to cover appropriate supervision, parental consent and informational forms, student eligibility, expectations of chaperones, health/safety concerns, busing, and all other aspects relating to such trips.

The Superintendent shall prepare procedures for the operation of a field trip activity. Field trip support shall be determined annually by the Board during its budget deliberations. Regardless of the fiscal support for field trips, the rules of the School District for approval and conduct of such trips shall apply.

The Superintendent/designee may cancel previously approved field trips due to extenuating circumstances.

The Superintendent or his/her designee will consider suspension of foreign travel and field trips to major U.S. cities under Level 4 (Orange) or higher status alert, or other warnings issued by the U.S. State Department or other government entity. Consideration should be given to those factors outlined in Regulation 8460.R3, Homeland Security Alerts, in order to determine, to the extent possible, if there is a serious possibility of danger to students.

NOTE: Refer also to Policies #3410 -- Code of Conduct on School Property

#5730 -- Transportation of Students

#7310 -- School Conduct and Discipline

District Code of Conduct on School Property

Adoption Date: October 9, 2007