Field Trips

SS 4.0

Field trips and group instruction at locations other than the school require written parental permission, adequate supervision, and appropriate precautions. 

Purpose:

• To ensure each student’s safety

• To be aware of any student’s special health needs

Commentary/Procedural Points:

• A field trip is related to the student’s course of study if it is to be counted as a school day. It is not recreational in nature.  

• Children ride in a school vehicle that carries proper insurance. Parents drive their own children only. 

•  A Release and Waiver form is signed by the parent for each field trip. The form contains:  

  • • • student’s name  

      • site and location to be visited  

      • departure and arrival time  

      • accompanying teachers  

      • any special considerations  

      • parent signature line  

      • phone number of parent on day of trip  

      • release of liability to include the Archbishop of Baltimore and his designees. 

•  All chaperones must be in compliance with procedures described in the AOB Procedures for Implementation and Compliance: A Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. 

•  School personnel do not drive students in their own vehicles.  

• When chartering a bus, the school must obtain the Certificate of Insurance showing adequate limits of liability coverage.  

• Buses used for field trips out of state must be properly licensed under Section 390 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.  

• If a school is using an owned bus to transport students across state lines, the school must ensure that a number of the sections of the FMCSR are met. Most importantly the driver must have the applicable license, have met the controlled substance and alcohol use testing and other qualifications. Moreover the vehicle must be equipped with all of the parts and accessories as required under section 393 of the FMCSR regulations.  

• The school must comply with procedures for the distribution of medication during the field trip.  

• In arranging field trip experiences, the school must provide reasonable accommodations to include students with physical limitations and/or medical conditions. 

References:  

•   Field Trip Form 

• VIRTUS Child and Youth Protection 

February 2024