The expenses for student participation in school-sponsored trips must conform to Policy 5520 Student Fees.
All school-sponsored trips that include one of the following elements must have approval of the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee:
A routine field trip is a school-sponsored activity that involves travel outside of the school building, is related to the curriculum and is conducted during the school day. Though departure may occur prior to regular school hours or the return time may be after regular school hours, there is no overnight stay on a routine field trip.
Field trips are arranged by the teacher. Prior written notification is to be given by the teacher to the principal’s office. Field trips outside the city of Lincoln must be approved by the principal or the principal’s designee.
Staff members who conduct field trips are responsible for appropriate supervision of students.
Routine field trips may not involve any expense to the student or their parents. Students may not be required to “donate” money to participate in the trip.
An extracurricular activity trip is an activity that involves travel outside of the school district for those students identified in Regulation 6710.6.
Coaches and sponsors who participate in extracurricular activity trips are responsible for appropriate supervision of students.
Any expenses associated with extracurricular activity trips must comply with Policy 5520 Student Fees.
A school-sponsored trip is classified as a non-routine trip if it is sponsored by the school and does not meet the definition of a routine field trip or an extracurricular activity trip.
Prior written notification is to be given by the staff responsible for the trip to the principal’s office. All non-routine trips must be approved by the principal or the principal’s designee. Considerations for granting or denying approval are to include, but not be limited to, the following:
All non-routine trips must be submitted for approval of the superintendent or designee at least 60 days prior to the event. Considerations for granting or denying approval will include the same criteria as set forth above for the principals to consider.
Due to the potential costs to the District and families, the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning may impose limits on the number of such trips that may occur within each building or program within established time periods.
Coaches and sponsors who participate in non-routine trips are responsible for appropriate supervision of students.
Any expenses associated with non-routine trips must comply with Policy 5520 Student Fees. Students may be required to pay for expenses associated with non-routine trips and may be required to participate in fundraising.
Trips that are not school-sponsored trips are not the responsibility of Lincoln Public Schools. Any staff member who arranges or is involved in arranging a trip that is not school sponsored has the responsibility to clearly communicate in all meetings, publications and postings, published electronically or graphically, that the District is not responsible for the trip. Students are sometimes given the opportunity to participate in trips that have an apparent connection to the District but which, in fact, are not school sponsored. Some examples: (1) travel with a club sport team, where the team is coached by the student’s high school coach; (2) a band travelling to an out-of-state band contest that is arranged by a Booster Club; or (3) a foreign language teacher taking students abroad during the summer.
These opportunities are often worthwhile and beneficial to students. However, these opportunities are not school-sponsored activities. All arrangements for such trips, including costs, travel, supervision and safety, are the responsibility of the group or person making the trip available to the students. Lincoln Public Schools has no responsibility for such trips.
Anyone who is uncertain as to whether or not a particular opportunity is school-sponsored should contact the building principal or building athletic director. Employees who are involved in such trips have the responsibility to ensure that parents and students are aware that the activity is not school-sponsored.