Board Policy

BP 6153.1

Instruction

Out-Of-State Field Trips

General

1. Out-of-state field trips shall be approved in advance by the Board of Education in accordance with the provision of this policy and Education Code 35330.

2. For the purposes of this policy, out-of-state field trips are defined as out-of-state trips involving school-sponsored organizations and/or those school-affiliated organizations which constitute a part of the regular instructional or co-curricular program offered by the District or by a given school(s).

Criteria to be Considered in Determining Approval of Out-of-State Field Trips

In cases where a given school organization is proposing an out-of-state field trip, the following factors shall be considered:

1. The number of days of regular classroom instruction that students in the group will miss while participating in the excursion and/or have missed because of similar trips conducted during a two-year period leading up to the proposed departure date.

2. The educational value of the proposed trip.

3. The social and/or cultural experiences that the proposed trip offers.

4. The timing of any trip proposed during the regular school year and particularly whether or not it conflicts with important dates on the school academic calendar.

5. The relationship of the proposed trip to the District's course of study at the level in question.

6. The unavailability of the experiences offered through the proposed trip within the state of California.

7. The absence of commercial or monetary benefit to any profit-making party or entity conducting, organizing or otherwise sponsoring the proposed trip.

8. The impact on the community of expenses associated with the proposed trip in relation to the projected benefits of the trip and in relation to other appeals to the community to support school-sponsored projects.

9. The destination of the proposed trip. The nature of any invitation received by the school group in question and particularly whether any such invitation has, because of exceptional past performances, been extended to the group as a representative of the area, or state.

Monies to Fund Out-of-State Field Trips

1. Prospective student participants and their families may be requested to pay the cost of the student for lodging, meals, transportation and any accompanying registration expenses. In conjunction with this provision, the principal shall be responsible for (a) approving requests to waive such costs because of financial hardship and (b) coordinating fund-raising efforts to cover the cost of student participation in cases of financial hardship.

2. Under no circumstances, however, shall a student be prevented from participating in any proposed trip because of an inability to pay all or part of an excursion expense.

3. Fund-raising drives for the purpose of funding any remaining costs of student participation in an out-of-state trip not covered above shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Education Code 35330, Board Policy regarding gifts to the District and student body funds. All such drives shall be approved prior to their inception.

(cf. 3290 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests)

(cf. 3452 - Student Activity Funds)

4. Voluntary contributions on the part of parents/guardians and/or other interested parties which would apply toward any part of the cost of the proposed trip shall be accepted in accordance with BP 1315 (Gifts to the District).

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

35330 Excursions and field trips

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California