The chancellor has issued revised regulations on field trips for New York City Schools and you can download them from the DOE website. The New York Post article on the matter states, "Schools Chancellor Joel Klein has banned all school day trips that have nothing to do with Reading, Writing and Arithmetic." This is incorrect. The actual regulation is:

"All school trips that take place during school hours must have an educational focus and be viewed as an extension of the curriculum and learning environment."

Obviously the Post is trying to be cute in referring to the 3 Rs, but it does give the wrong impression. Here's a fuller summary:

- All school trips that take place during school hours must have an educational focus and be viewed as an extension of the curriculum and learning environment. - During school hours, trips to recreational areas, resorts, and similar destinations are not permitted nor are they allowed as part of an otherwise approved trip. - Trips to recreational areas, resorts, and similar destinations are permitted during non-school hours, e.g. after school, weekends, or holidays. - Trips to amusement parks are not permitted under any circumstances. - An emergency medical insurance policy must be purchased to cover all participants in international trips. - The consent forms have been revised. - A trip application form has been developed.

http://docs.nycenet.edu/dscgi/admin.py/Get/File-637/A-670.pdf

Mike

-- Michael Gatton (mgatton@csd6.org), March 14, 2003