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IV. D. 6.
Student Travel Policy
The West Warwick School Committee sanctions student travel, including participation in interscholastic events and community civic projects, which are of value in helping achieve each participating student's educational objectives. Under this policy, student travel shall take these forms: conventional field trips, endorsed activities and supplemental trips. The School Committee sanctions conventional field trips, endorsed activities, and supplemental trips.
The school staff under the direction of the administration shall take the educational welfare of all participating students into consideration when planning conventional field trips and/or endorsed activities including reasonable efforts to accommodate students with disabilities. The administration may place restrictions upon student’s participation when required.
The staff member planning the conventional field trips and/or endorsed activities shall assess whether the educational goals of the trip can be met in an accessible location. Additionally, space will be made available on field trip permission forms for parents to identify services or auxiliary aids that would make the field trip and endorsed activities accessible.
All sanctioned student travel, i.e., conventional field trips, endorsed activities, and supplemental trips are subject to the same rules and regulations for behavior as in school. Chaperones and supervisors are responsible for the supervision of students and the enforcement of behavioral rules. The use of alcohol, tobacco products, or the improper use of controlled substances is prohibited during student travel, both on the part of the chaperones and students. Students should expect to have their luggage searched on overnight trips that are part of sanctioned student travel and such is the responsibility of the chaperones and/or administration.
Overnight trips required by sanctioned student travel must be presented with approval of the Building Principal to the Superintendent and, upon his/her recommendation, to the School Committee for approval. Supplemental trips must also receive approval of the Building Principal, the Superintendent, and the School Committee.
Definitions:
Conventional Field Trips – Those activities planned as class, grade level, and/or cluster experiences within each building.
Endorsed Activities – Activities such as regional/national athletic and academic contests in which students elect or are selected to participate and are sponsored by associations and organizations which seek to extend the well being and development of the student and the community.
Supplemental Trips – Trips which are characterized generally by 1) extended travel within and outside of the United States, 2) participation of students at various grade levels from within and outside the School District, 3) no direct connection to a specific unit of study found in the curriculum, and 4) emphasis on the cultural and social aspects of the life in countries visited. In addition, the School District will not bear any responsibility for the costs of supplemental trips.
Date Adopted by the School Committee: May 14, 2003
Initials of Chairperson: ___________