We have 58 kids in our two fifth grade classes, 10 parents in each class said they would be willing to go on field trips when they filled out the volunteer sign-up form in September. Granted, who knows who would have been available at the last field trip date. Only two parents (one parent, one grandparent) were picked to go. What I would really like to hear is if anyone has a policy about chaperones. At least one of the students on the trip is an inclusion student and usually has an aide with him in the classroom. For this trip he was in a group of ten students.
We had 2 charter buses so space was not an issue, nor was admission cost. If this was to a contained place, like a play, I can understand a large ratio but this museum they went to is a huge one, in an area outside of our school district. Any chaperone policies out there?
I don't believe we have a policy regarding chaperone ratios. We usually have too many rather than too few! If the kids go on a bus then they have to limit the number of parents, but it's always about 5 students to 1 parent. If we go in cars then most of the time you're responsible for the kids in your car and even with a van you can't do more than five. I think it should be up to the teacher - and they should have the right to say if there aren't enough parents then the kids can't go.
Our district's policy is "the staff members decide the level or amount of supervision need". My daughters schools normally go by the 10:1 ratio. After talking to the Asst. Principal, he reassured me that each field trip is looked at as to how best supervise the kids and usually it is a much smaller ratio. Judging from the trips I've been on, it is usually about 4 or 5 to 1.
Thanks Metzy mom, but I'm not really looking for the minimum required. For the museum it was 10:1. My point is that smaller groups are better and I'm wondering if any parents group that also pays for the field trips has an actual policy. Or if a school doesn't have a policy, what is the common practice?
I believe our school ratio is 5 children to each adult.
A good way to find out what the norm for your area is is to check with the department of child services. They have the state minimums and maximums because of licensed day cares. I would think that the school would fall under their umbrella.
