606.05 – Student Field Trips and Excursions
The Board recognizes that a properly planned, well-conducted, and a carefully supervised field trip or excursion is a vital part of the curriculum in any classroom. As such, one student trip per grade level of significant educational value will be supported.
Field trips shall be accomplished in the time frame of the regular school day unless there are educational reasons of such an overriding nature as to receive special consideration. Field trips for class enrichment may be approved within a reasonable distance of a school in the District, with such approval granted by the Superintendent/designee. In general, the Board will not sponsor, subsidize, or approve any field trip or excursion (extracurricular trip) outside the State of Iowa. The exception to this out-of-state policy may be granted only (1) by application to the Board of Education, and (2) if the approved activity is related to those programs which are at least partially reimbursed by state or federal funds, or those activities approved by the organizations represented by the Unified Iowa High School Activities Federation with the approval of the Superintendent/designee.
Extracurricular activities shall be those activities that are not a part of the regular school academic program and for which no approved class credit is given. Generally, the Board will not sponsor, subsidize, or approve travel for extracurricular type activities, except those held within the state which are approved by the organizations represented by the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Classes and extracurricular organizations desiring approval of a field trip or extracurricular trip which is not generally authorized under the terms of this policy may request that the Board approve and authorize such a trip. A request for exception must be made to the Board, in writing, by the sponsor of such activity. Such request shall be delivered to the Superintendent in ample time prior to the Board meeting at which the request will be considered for the Board to fully review prior to acting thereon.
Legal Reference: 390 C.F.R. Pt. 390.3(f) (2006).; Iowa Code § 279.8 (2009).; 281 I.A.C. 43.9.
Date of Adoption: July 1, 1985
Reviewed & Revised: September 3, 1991; June 1, 1998; March 15, 1999; April 19, 2004; January 19, 2009; March 21, 2016; June 17, 2019