House Passes Legislation to Protect Students on School Run Overnight Trips
Font size:
Currently no federal laws oversee student safety on off-campus, overnight trips sponsored by public schools.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2009) -- The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed the first federal legislation to keep students safe while on school-sponsored overnight field trips.
Under current laws, there are no requirements for schools to have safety plans in place when students attend off-campus, overnight trips. The legislation, Phylicia’s Law (H.R. 729), authored by U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), would rectify this. It would require school districts receiving federal funds through the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program to develop a school safety policy for off-campus, overnight field trips and make those policies publicly available. The bill is named after Phylicia Moore, an 18-year-old high school student from New Jersey who tragically died while on a school field trip to Ghana.
Under current laws, there are no requirements for schools to have safety plans in place when students attend off-campus, overnight trips. The legislation, Phylicia’s Law (H.R. 729), authored by U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), would rectify this. It would require school districts receiving federal funds through the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program to develop a school safety policy for off-campus, overnight field trips and make those policies publicly available. The bill is named after Phylicia Moore, an 18-year-old high school student from New Jersey who tragically died while on a school field trip to Ghana.
“Parents deserve every assurance that their children are safe when in the care of educators, regardless of whether they’re in a classroom, at recess or on a field trip,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “With today’s vote, the House has made it clear that every school needs to have thorough and effective policies in place to ensure that field trips provide safe, productive and exciting learning opportunities for students.”
“Every child’s life is precious so when there are reasonable steps that we can take to better protect our young people, then I believe we should take them,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), chief sponsor of the bill. “Having parents judge the sufficiency of school safety and security plans before giving their consent to approve any off-campus school trip for their child is highly appropriate and clearly necessary. This law also will help ensure that all involved – the schools, the chaperones, the students, and parents – know what their individual roles and responsibilities are on a trip and what will happen should tragedy strike.”
In addition, the bill encourages the U.S. Secretary of Education to provide guidance to districts to help them develop appropriate plans.
Add to:
del.icio.us |
Digg
del.icio.us |
Digg
Email to a friend
Print version
Plain textMore from School Safety Law
New Jersey Governor Christie announces a bipartisan clean-up of Anti-Bullying law that preserves the protections it affords to students. ...
Lawmakers Focus on Helping Young Men of Color
California legislators gathered in Los Angeles to find ways to improve the lives of young men of color, including reforming school discipline and law enforcement policies....
Student appeals an order declaring him a ward of the juvenile court following the findings he committed assault with a deadly weapon....
Three high school students allege random drug testing violates their rights to privacy, to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures, and to equal protection....
Following a cafeteria choking death, the school demands the court throw out a damning report from a school safety expert presented at trial....
District fights decision that an obscene online ad found by a parent does not show the author is unfit to serve as dean of students....
Parents argue that their daughter's rights were violated when she was suspended for creating a fake MySpace profile of her middle school principal....
The Colorado Senate unanimously supported a bill to improve the way students can anonymously reach out to adults about dangerous, violent or criminal activities....
How Safe Are America's Colleges and Universities?
The U.S. standardization community has stepped forward to help institutions of higher learning and other organizations make important strides in securing campus safety....
Legislature: Step up the fight against teen suicide
Colorado lawmakers voted at the State Capitol to delve deeper into teen suicide, with the House Education Committee unanimously passing a resolution calling for a study of the issue....
Now on the books: more disclosure means greater safety
Law requires all child-care workers to have a criminal history check through both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation....
Zero-tolerance school rules under fire, eyed by panel
Colorado task force will examine zero-tolerance policies, the use of legal sanctions for students, and how schools interact with the juvenile justice system....
State Ed Board Chair Says Notice Rule Puts Parents First
Schaffer opposes suit filed by Colorado Education Association to stop rule requiring parents to be notified when a school employee has been arrested for a felony....
Guns on Campus Legislation Fails in Majority of States
States United to Prevent Gun Violence reports that 23 states introduced legislation allowing higher ed students or faculty to carry guns on campus....
Colorado Task Force to Reassess School Discipline
New Colorado measure forms a task force to study current zero-tolerance school discipline policies, the use of legal sanctions for students, and how schools interact with the juvenile justice system....
