In many cases, teachers ask for parent volunteers to attend field trips with the class. While it is the teacher's sole responsibility to care for the children while they are in school, it is important to have enough adults along when leaving the school. Bringing along parents of some of the students offers a few more eyes to watch the children and gives responsibility of smaller groups to more adults.
While many schools use school buses to transport students to and from field trips, shorter trips or those involving smaller classes may use parent drivers. When parent drivers are used, it is the school's responsibility to notify parents and seek their permission. In addition, the school must verify that all parents who volunteer to drive have a clean driving record. If the students are young children, appropriate safety seats must be used for all children in accordance with state law.
Throughout the duration of the field trip, it is important for the teacher to ensure all students are present and accounted for. This is more easily done if the teacher brings along a list of each student in attendance. The teacher should take a head count each time students board the bus and each time the entire group meets together, such as at lunch. This assures the teacher all of the students are present at all times. The teacher should also encourage parent chaperones to conduct their own head counts at frequent intervals.
Students who are out on a field trip still represent the school at which they attend. It is the teacher's responsibility to make sure students know what is expected of them. This includes following all of the school rules while on the field trip. If a student cannot follow the rules on the trip, the teacher should issue an appropriate punishment, just as she would if the class was back in school. The school should also train all chaperones so they know what is expected of them and what should be reported back to the teacher.
While the permission slip releases the school of all liability if a student should become hurt or ill on the trip, it is still the school's responsibility to handle emergencies appropriately. This includes making sure all chaperones know what to do in the case of an emergency. It may also include securing chaperones with specific training for certain types of field trips, such as those where students will be swimming. If something happens to a student while on a field trip, the school must contact the parents of the student as soon as possible.