Field Trips

Before requesting a field trip, remember field trips are an extension of learning & therefore District policy states all students are able to participate when given permission by parents.  Students cannot be held back from attending a field trip learning experience due to behavior or attendance.  A parent cannot be required to attend a field trip for a particular student, however, we can HIGHLY recommend additional support from home for students who may need additional supervision. 

Field trips can be a useful supplement to daily instruction, but they are also very expensive. Field trips MUST be instructional in nature; that is be tied to a curricular objective. The average field trip is approximately $200 and takes place from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. All field trip requests must be approved by the principal at least 15 school days prior to the actual trip—this is to facilitate the requirement that the request be in the transportation office 10 working days prior to the event. Field trips must be paid 5 days before the date of the trip. 

  Teachers are responsible for all supervision during field trips. Parents and other adults may be invited to accompany the class (if they have completed and been cleared through a district background check), and will be required to provide their own transportation. Teachers are responsible for discipline on the bus – at least one teacher/sponsor is required on each bus for the field trip. The following procedures apply to all field trips:

• Field trips require signed parent/guardian permission slips returned to school no later than one week prior to the trip.

  • • Students who fail to return their permission slips will not be allowed to attend the trip. 

• Teachers must take an emergency health card (this is part of the permission slip) and any medications for each student they are taking from campus.

• Field trips must be reflected in lesson plans and be clearly linked to instructional objectives.  Alternate education plans should be prepared and left for students unable to attend the event.

• Field trips to view movies must meet the requirements detailed herein.

• Student cost for field trips should be reasonable so as not to exclude students based on financial capabilities. Teachers collecting money for field trips must keep a detailed log of all funds received with student name and amount paid. All funds must be turned in to the principal’s secretary at the end of each day (see Receipt/Deposit Procedures).

• ONLY students enrolled at MLK Jr. Elementary may participate in these excursions.

• The cafeteria manager must be notified two weeks in advance that the class will be absent. Sack lunches will be provided if the field trip lasts through the lunch schedule.

• Field trip cancellations must be sent to the transportation office with no less than 24 hour notice.

• All students who leave from the school for the field trip must return to the school at the end of the field trip. NO PARENTAL PICK-UP FROM THE FIELD TRIP LOCATION IS ALLOWED.

On The Day Of The Field Trip:

Take With You

Working cell phone (left on at all times)

A roster of students attending to verify all who get off of the bus return onto the bus

Emergency health cards for all students attending

Medications for all students attending when applicable 

Leave In Office

Cell phone number(s)

List of students/chaperones attending

Signed permission slips for every student attending

List of students remaining at school and their location & assignment(s)