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School Trip Letter to Parents – Sample Letter to Parents About School Trip

To, _________ (Parent Name), _________ (Address)

Date: __/__/____ (Date)

Subject: Informing about picnic ________ (picnic information)

Respected Sir/ Madam,

This letter is in reference to the picnic which is being conducted on __/__/____ (Date) for classes __ to __ (Class). Picnic will be held at __________ (Location).

It is to inform you that this picnic will be held on __/__/____ (Date) for which we along with all other students will be leaving for the venue at __:__ (Time). Students will be taken to the venue by _______ (Type of bus). ________(Lunch and drinks will be served at the venue itself – if applicable). It is to inform you that charges for the same are ______ (Amount). You are requested to submit the above-said amount by __/__/____ (Date).

Students need to be in proper school uniforms and wearing the ID card would be mandatory. ___________ (Mention all other important information).

For, ________ (School Name), ________ (Signature/ Stamp), ________ (Name)

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Comprehensive Letter to Parents About Your School’s Trip Abroad

What to include in your school trip letter.

Want some help? We’ve created this template to save you time and ensure you cover all the necessary information to inform parents about the trip. You only have to customize the template to suit your needs and provide additional information relevant to your trip.

Downloadable template: school trip letter to parents

Where should we send you the letter template?

Objectives and benefits of the trip

In this section, you should explain the reason for the trip, the educational goals, and what the students will gain from participating. 

It’s very important to provide a clear and detailed explanation of why the school has chosen to organize this trip. This way, you can help the parents understand why the trip is a valuable opportunity for their child.

Trip logistics

You should provide all the trip logistics details to ensure the parents have all the information they need to enroll their child in your school trip.

Provide a detailed itinerary of the trip that includes the dates, destinations, and activities that the students will be doing. In addition, describe the type of accommodation and the modes of transportation arrangements.

Safety is crucial since your students are minors, so outline the safety and security measures that will be taken to ensure students’ safety, such as emergency procedures and medical precautions. Hold back on your school trip rules email until you’ve confirmed student travelers and send it to them alone.

It’s really important to let the parents know about your tour operator so that they know you’ve chosen one that is reputable and fully accredited. Usually, your provider will help verify this. 

Also, don’t forget to provide the contact information of the trip leaders and teachers who can answer parent concerns. It ensures parents that their child’s safety and well-being are prioritized.

Payment schedule

Parents and guardians should be provided with clear information on the cost of the school trip and payment schedule, including details on the cancellation policy and any associated charges. 

It will ensure parents are fully informed before committing, helping them plan and reduce the number of dropouts moving forward.

Lastly, you need to explain to parents all the steps they need to take if they want to sign up their children on your school trip. In most cases, the inscription comes along with the first deposit and a permission form. We recommend adding the permission slip at the end of the letter to make it as accessible as possible for them.

Also, you should include the details of when the parents’ evening or info session will be arranged. In addition, if the school has any social media accounts, you could share updates and additional information.

In conclusion, a well-written letter to parents about your school trip abroad can help ensure that parents are fully informed about the trip details so they can decide to sign their children up. Using a template and following the guidelines we provided above can save time and promote the trip effectively, turning your planning and preparation into a successful and valuable learning experience for your students.

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How Do I Write A School Trip Letter?

Be sure to visit all the schools on your list, if you can. A visit is the best way to determine whether a school is right for your child. Even a short visit will help you identify a school’s strengths and challenges. It’s also the only way to get a feel for a school’s climate — intangible but important factors like the dynamism of the teaching, engagement of the students, quality of communication, level of respect between students, teachers, administrators, and parents, and the overall sense that the school offers a safe and inspiring learning environment .

School visit checklists

Use this printable guide to help you plan your elementary, middle, or high school visit.

Before your visit

• Do your homework. Read about the schools you’ll be visiting. Examine their school profiles on GreatSchools.org. Talk to other parents and check your local newspaper for articles about the schools.
• Contact the school.  Most schools conduct regular school tours and open houses during the enrollment season — typically in the fall. Call the school or go online to schedule a visit.
• Ask and observe. Jot down your questions before your visit (the sample questions below will help you create your list).

Key questions to ask

• Does this school have a particular educational philosophy or mission?
• What curriculum does the school use for math, reading, science, etc? Ask if the school follows the Common Core State Standards , Next Generation Science Standards , and which program(s) are they using to teach children to read ?
• What is the average class size ?
• What is this school’s approach to student discipline and safety? Do they practice restorative justice ? Are the discipline practices fair for families of color ? Do they practice corporal punishment , and if so, can you opt out of that for your child?
• How much homework do students have? What is the school’s philosophy/approach to homework ?
• What kind of library resources are available to students?
• How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school?
• How do the arts fit into the curriculum? Is there a school choir, band or orchestra? A drama program? Art classes?
• What extracurricular opportunities (sports, clubs, community service, competitions) are available for students?
• How do students get to school? Is free school busing available?
• Is bullying a problem at the school? Does the school have an anti-bullying policy ?
• Does the school have a program for gifted students ?
• How does this school support students who have academic, social or emotional difficulties?
• What strategies are used to teach students who are not fluent in English?
• What professional development opportunities do teachers have ? In what ways do teachers collaborate?
• Does the school offer Physical Education (PE) classes?
• What are some of the school’s greatest accomplishments? What are some of the biggest challenges this school faces?

Features to look for

• Do classrooms look cheerful? Is student work displayed, and does it seem appropriate for the grade level?
• Do teachers seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable, asking questions that stimulate students and keep them engaged?
• Does the principal seem confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers and parents?
• How do students behave as they move from class to class or play outside?
• Is there an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ? What other types of parent involvement take place at this school?
• How well are the facilities maintained? Are bathrooms clean and well supplied, and do the grounds look safe and inviting?

Especially for elementary schools

• What are some highlights of this school’s curriculum in reading , math, science and social studies?
• What criteria are used to determine student placement in classes?
• How does this school keep parents informed of school information and activities? Are they easy to communicate with ?
• Does the school let parents know what their rights are (and aren’t ) in regards to your child’s education?
• Is quality child care available before and after school?
• How much outdoor time do kids get each day?

 Especially for middle schools

• How does the school guide and prepare students for major academic decisions that will define their options in high school and beyond? Do they provide advice to parents on how to help this age group ?
• Does the school offer tutoring or other support if students need extra help?
• Are world language classes (French, Spanish, etc.) offered to students?
• If the school is large, does it make an effort to provide activities that create a sense of community ?

Especially for high schools

• Does this school have a particular curriculum focus, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) or the arts?
• What kind of emphasis does the school place on college preparation ?
• Does the school have a good selection of Advanced Placement (AP) and honors classes?
• What percentage of students take the SAT or/and ACT ?
• Where do students go after they graduate? How many attend four-year college? Are graduates prepared for college ?
• Are counselors available to help students make important decisions about classes?
• Is college counseling and support available?
• Does the school offer a variety of career planning options for students who are not college bound?
• Does the school staff set high expectations for all students?
• Does the school have a tutoring program so students can get extra help if they need it?
• How do students get to school? Is there a parking lot, and are buses (public or district-provided) available?
• Does this school have any school-to-work programs or specialized academies ?
• What is the school drop-out rate ?

Especially for charter schools

• When and why was this school created ?
• Does the school have a specific focus?
• Who is the charter holder, or the group that created the school?
• How does the school select teachers? Are the teachers certificated?
• Is this the permanent location or facility for the school? If not, will the school be moving to another location in the near future?

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The Ultimate Guide to Promoting a School Trip to Parents and Students.

So, you’ve spent the last few months researching destinations, travel providers and debating travel itineraries. The School board has given you the go-ahead to run the trip and you have found a suitable travel date. Now you need to get the students signed up and the parents on board - Simple! Well, almost. That’s where our ultimate guide to promoting a school trip to parents and students comes in handy.

Getting your educational school trip off the ground isn’t always as straightforward as this. Trips often fail to take off due to low sign up numbers. This can be frustrating especially after the amount of work that goes into getting a trip to this stage.

The most effective way to promote a school trip is by ticking all the boxes for students and parents alike. These audiences are very different, but it’s essential that you speak to both of them. An enthusiastic student can persuade a parent to let them go on a trip just as easily as a keen parent can encourage a student onto one! A successful advertising campaign for your trip is essential to get parents and students on board. Unfortunately, you don't have the luxury of unlimited time to craft the perfect marketing strategy.

That's why we’ve created this ultimate guide to promoting a school trip to make advertising your trip as easy as possible and have the biggest impact. Less time spent on advertising means more time to do the things you care about most, like teaching.

‍ Inside this guide, you will find: 

• How to promote school trips to students
• How to promote school trips to parents
• Useful tips for promoting school trips

Promoting Your School Trip to Students

Students primary interest in a school trip will always be to have fun. While it's important students know what will be learnt, they will be especially interested in the exciting activities on offer. Spending time away from home, and having a holiday with your friends are good points to focus on too.

We’ve broken the process of communicating with students down into 3 stages:

Firstly, you have to make students aware that a trip is happening and there are various ways to do this. Make an announcement to students during class. Ask your colleagues to tell their classrooms about the trip. Hand out flyers with inspiring photos, key information and the top activities included. The best opportunity to reach the biggest audience will be during assembly. This is a great chance to convey all the required information in a short space of time!

• Showing video footage or pictures of the key activities is also a great way to create excitement.
• Put your trip on the School’s Intranet, include a sample itinerary and information on the top activities.
• Write a short article or advert in the school newspaper/bulletin or get on the school’s radio for a quick chat. Showcase trip posters in popular areas of the school, and hand out flyers to relevant classes. We have ready-made poster and flyer templates that teachers can use to advertise with. 

Educate & Empower

Arrange a meeting during break time for students, this is a great chance to get the first students on board and answer any questions they might have. If you can get a small group of ‘early adopters’ on board they can act as advocates and get others involved too.

Make it Fun

The language used between advertising to parents and students should be different. With the students, the aim is to excite them and create a buzz around the trip. Keep your content light on logistic details and heavy on the fun!

What can you do to ‘keep it fun’

Outline the top activities 

Talk up the experience of being away from parents - It’s a holiday with their friends after all!

Show trip videos such as:

• Digital Media Academy  
• Huntsville Space Camp
• Camp KSC Orlando  

If the school has run similar trips in the past you could show pictures/videos of those trips. Or, ask a student who attended the trip to give a talk on their experience.

Promoting Your School Trip to Parents

You could have every single student in school interested, but if you can’t convince the parents of the trip’s value, you’ll struggle to get the sign-ups. Parents will need informative resources, detailed itineraries including logistical, financial and educational details. Your communication with parents must be professional and focused on educational benefits. The benefits of school travel extend far beyond the walls of the classroom. Key benefits include reinforcing classroom learning, providing real-world learning opportunities while developing social skills. Students will also build independence while creating life-long memories with friends. Your role as trip organiser is to put forward these benefits and communicate the value of the trip. Parents and students alike will be desperate to join the trip if you do this.

We’ve broken down communicating with parents into 3 steps:

Announce & Inform

Give Students letters to take home outlining all the most important details, and informing them of an information evening.

If possible add the trip to your school’s website and social media pages.

Contact through a school emailing list. 

Contact the parent-teacher associations and get the wider school community involved.

The aim of this evening is to inform parents of the travel arrangements, itinerary and outline the key educational activities of the trip. You will have the opportunity to address any concerns parents may have, explain who you will be travelling with and communicate interesting trip facts! It can be beneficial to have a representative from your school travel provider there to answer any more detailed questions. A parents evening is also your opportunity as trip leader to show the parents that you are responsible and passionate about their children's education. Using a powerpoint presentation is a great way to convey all the required information while keeping your presentation on track. Hosting a Q&A at the end of the evening is crucial in developing a relationship. Enthusiastic parents can become incredible advocates for your trip. If you have a few very keen parents it can make a world of difference in getting it off the ground!

Continue the conversation 

Create a social media page on facebook or twitter. This is a great way to show parents that their kids are safe and having a great time! Taking videos during and after activities is a great way to reinforce educational learning. Sending your child abroad can seem like a daunting idea. A social media page helps reassure parents that they will be able to keep up to date with what’s happening on the trip!

Confirm Booking/Funding 

Ensure there is a clear process and deadline for accepting deposits, and payments. If you plan to fundraise part of the trip, create a calendar (or download our sample calendar) include key payment dates and fundraising activities.Communicate exactly what the fundraising target is and what the remaining payable balance will be. We send payment reminders to our clients ahead of time with useful resources to make collecting payments as easy as possible. 

Useful Tips 

• Ask students or teachers who have travelled before to talk about the trip.
• Show a slideshow of pictures and videos from previous school trips.
• Get your colleagues on board early to help advocate your trip. The more staff members you have talking about the trip, the larger your potential audience will be.
• Ask your travel provider to lead a presentation at an assembly, in class or to co-host your information evening. From experience, we have found that having a representative from your school travel provider is beneficial. Your representative will know all the trip details inside out.  This is something we do and we highly recommend it to all our clients.
• Trip cost can sometimes be a barrier to entry. To mitigate this, pre-plan fundraising activities and make an estimate of fundraising targets.

What’s your experience promoting a school trip?

Thanks for reading our ‘Ultimate Guide to Promoting a School Trip to Parents and Students’.  We hope you found it useful and are able to use the above tactics to help get your educational school trip off your dream board and into reality! If you have used any successful promotional activities we would love to hear them!

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Residential visits: letters to parents, get tips on writing letters to parents about school residential visits, and download a template letter to make the task easier. also, read examples from primary and secondary schools and a multi-academy trust (mat)., what to include, primary school examples.

• Secondary school examples
• Example from a MAT
• When and where the visit is
• The purpose of the visit and benefits for pupils
• Who will be leading the visit and which other adults will be going
• Details of activities
• The cost (including payment deadlines and any financial assistance available)
• What’s included in the cost
• Whether pupils will need any particular clothes or equipment
• How to reserve a place

Download and adapt our template to suit your context.

Get inspiration from the examples below, by seeing what other schools are doing and how they're approaching residential visits. 

Mindful of the current economic climate, Chilton Academy and Nursery in County Durham published an expression of interest letter  asking parents for their opinions on the cost before planning their visit. 

Details of the

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• School trip health and safety: planning checklist and guidance
• Charging for residential school trips
• Trips and transport: risk assessments

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Letter Template to Parents Announcing School Trip Openings

School Trip Openings Letter Template

Hello Parents and Guardians!

Exciting news! We have several school trip openings available for the <ENTER PARTICIPATING GRADE HERE> grade trip to <ENTER DESTINATION CITY HERE>. The trip dates are <ENTER SCHOOL TRIP DATES HERE>.

Would you like to join us? There are currently <ENTER NUMBER OF SCHOOL TRIP OPENINGS HERE> spaces available on the trip. The cost for the trip is <ENTER TRIP COST HERE>. Full payment is due <ENTER FULL PAYMENT DUE DATE>.

Trip highlights include:

• <INSERT ITINERARY ITEM #1 HERE>
• <INSERT ITINERARY ITEM #2 HERE>
• <INSERT ITINERARY ITEM #3 HERE>
• <INSERT ITINERARY ITEM #4 HERE>
• <INSERT ITINERARY ITEM #5 HERE>

Please let me know as soon as possible BY EMAIL if you would like to attend the trip. This is an excellent opportunity to spend time with your child and explore a new city. We will fill the spaces on a first come, first serve basis. We  look forward to a fantastic trip and hope that you will join us!

<ENTER YOUR NAME HERE>

<ENTER YOUR TITLE HERE>

<ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HERE>

Related Articles:

• Field Trip Letter to Parents Template
• Chaperone Recruitment Letter Template
• Chaperone Trip Information Letter Template
• School Trip Dress Code Letter Template

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How To Write A Report On Your School Trip Experience

We know what it’s like in teaching these days: everything needs a write-up. And school trips are no exception: from writing permission letters to parents, to the post-match analysis that are school trip reports.

Fortunately, the experts at NGT are here to help. Our tour planning tools page and Trip HQ hub contain all sorts of teacher resources, from letter templates to packing checklists. So you can get a head start on all that admin, and build a school trip your students will never forget.

As for how to write a report on a school trip, we can help with those too. Just read on for our handy guide.

The school trip report format

When reporting on a  school trip , there are no ‘set’ ways to get started.

However, we’ve included some school trip report examples below, and outlined a few essential sections to help you out.

As for the length of your school trip report, you should aim for about two to three pages. This might sound quite long, but once you’ve filled out the key elements, it should come together fairly easily. 

The School Trip Aims and Objectives

Every school trip should have some solid objectives behind it: from allowing  geography  students to see coastal erosion in action, to letting your French class practice their language skills at a real  Parisian  market.

Hence, the aims and objectives should be the first and most important part of your school trip report. A bulleted list will suffice.

The school trip location

In your analysis of your school trip, it’s also important to explain why you chose that location.

Was it a once in a lifetime chance to experience other cultures? Or an opportunity for students to get to know their local area?

It’s also worth noting down why this place, in particular, is relevant to your specific  study topics . From museums and art galleries to sights and sounds, what is it about this  destination  that makes it the perfect spot to enhance your pupils’ classroom learning?

The school trip diary

A good school trip report should always include some diary-style entries. If it was a day trip, write up what your students did in the morning and afternoon. If you enjoyed a longer visit, you can separate out the activities from each day. 

However, rather than simply writing down the itinerary, make sure you explain how students felt, and what they learned. Adding little details like what the weather was like, and all the sights and sounds you noticed, can really help to bring your experience to life.

A top tip is to use the daily entries within  WST’s Trip HQ , therefore all your notes are securely kept in one place.

The school trip outcomes

This section is all about the educational impact of your adventure. Did your students fulfil their original objectives? What little surprises did you encounter along the way? Was there anything they learned that they didn’t expect to?

Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to establish the impact this experience will have in the classroom. For  modern foreign language  students, this might be improved fluency in their chosen language. For  art students , it might be inspiration for their coursework. For geographers, a case study they can use in their exams.

Whatever it is, write it down – it’s a crucial part of your school trip report.

Write it Well

• How To Write Field Trip Letter To Parents –  3 Samples.
• By: Ray Martins
• Date: January 14, 2022
• Time to read: 4 min.

Once in a while, students are required to go for field trip so that they can see firsthand, the different theories and concepts that they study in the classroom. However, before the children can go for the field trip, the school has to obtain consent from the parents. Thus, the school has to write a letter to the parents or guardians requesting them to consent that their children take part in the field trip.

In order to write a good field trip letter to the parents, it is important that the letter details the specific location that the children will visit, what they intend to see and learn, and any necessary preparations that need to be made by the parents in order to ensure that the field trip will be a success.

The introduction of the letter should be precise. Specifically, it should brief the parent on the actual date when the field trip is supposed to take place, the time that the school bus will be leaving, and when the bus is expected to arrive back from the trip.

How Do You Write No Objection Letter From Parents To Allow A Child To Travel?

If you have received a field trip letter from school informing you that your child is expected to go for a field trip, you will be required to write a no objection letter that will show you agree your child to take part in the trip. Here is a simple format you can use to indicate that you have agreed your child takes part in the field trip.

I have no objection to my child taking part in the field trip scheduled to take place on 15 th January 2022.

Sign and Date

Mary’s parents.

Sample 1 : Field Trip Letter To Parent

Dear Parent / Guardian

The fifth grade are scheduled to go for a field trip to the animal park in Texas on 23 rd January 2022 . In this trip, the children are going to see different wild animals that they have studied in the classroom. The school bus will leave at exactly 9.00 am and return about 2.00 pm. It is crucial that your child is not late for school on that date so that he/she does not miss the trip.

The field is paid for by the school. I however, require that you ensure you have consented and returned this letter by 16 th January 2022 so that we can have the names of the children going for the trip registered with the animal park. You are requested to pack snacks for your child so that he/she can enjoy the snacks on the bus.

This is a unique opportunity that shouldn’t be missed as the children will get a chance to see many wild animals that they have only seen on TV. The children should be dressed as they normally dress when coming to school on normal days.

It is my hope that you are going to consent your child takes part in the trip. In case you have any questions or concerns regarding the planned field trip, feel free to contact me any time.

Your Sincerely

Fifth Grade Sciences Studies Coordinator

Teacher Anne

——————————————————————————————-

Parent Trip Consent Slip

I _________________________ consent my child _______________________ attends the planned field trip on 23 rd January 2022.

———————–

Sign and Date 

————————————————————————————————————

Sample 2 : Field Trip Letter To Parent

Dear Parents

The school has planned for your child to go on a science field trip with the science club. The trip is a unique opportunity for your child to gain hands-on experience on different environmental issues such as how human activities have contributed to degradation of the environment.  The field trip might include a walk of about one mile in the forest, and in the farm. We are certain that this trip will be informative and beneficial to learning of your child.

In order to make sure that your child has unforgettable experience, we seek your assistance in the following:

• Make sure that your child wears ideal shoes – no sandals. Hiking or sports shoes are the best.
• Dress your child well. Layers are ideal so that they can be removed as needed.
• Let us know about any underlying health conditions such as allergy and medication.

Thanks for doing your best in ensuring that your child has a positive learning experience. For any queries or questions, feel free to contact me.

Emma Watson

School Events Coordinator

——————————————————————————————————-

Sample 3 : Information Letter To Parent About Planned Field Trip

I am writing to inform you that your child who is a 6 th Grader has an opportunity to visit Texas for a curriculum trip. We are all thrilled about this opportunity and it’s our hope that you are also thrilled.  The luxury coach is planned to leave school on Wednesday 8 th June 2021 at 5pm. We come back to school at 9:00am on Monday, 12 Th June . The total cost for the trip is $550 and it incorporates all costs to be incurred by the students.

Students are expected to be in school-appropriate dressing during the entire trip. When parking clothes for your sons and daughters, take into consideration the fact that the trip will happen during summer season. We will try our best to advise students prior to leaving about the forecasted temperatures.

We request that you sign the attached student consent slip and return it before 30 th April 2021 . After that, we are not going to accept any other reservations. We also request that you pay the fee of $500 before 30 th April so that we can be able make all the necessary arrangements.

I hereby conform that I have consented my child to go to the Texas trip taking place from June 8 to June 12 2021.

Name of student: ____________________________________________

Name of the Parent :_________________________________________

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Permission Letter for School Trip

A permission letter for school trip is written to seek permission from the legal authority of the student for conducting a school trip. A school writes this letter to the parents of the students with the purpose of getting consent that allows their kids to take part of such an educational tour. It is also important to inform the every detail regarding the trip that makes the parents satisfied about the safety of their kids. The letter should clarify all the doubts of the parents and that is also helpful to have their nods on the tour proposal.

Here in the example, a school authority writes this letter to a parent in order to seek their consent for taking their kids in a school trip.

School Trip Permission Letter Template

492 Green Meadows Apartments,

October 8, 2014

Subject: Permission for school trip

Dear Miss Jones,

The school authority organizes a school trip for the class IV students on 27 th Oct, 2014. The letter is to seek your permission to let your kid participate in such event. The trip is destined for the Sea Life London Aquarium, located in Greater London, which will be fun-loving as well as an educative subject for the students. A school bus is arranged for the trip and the students are requested to give their attendance at sharp 9:30 am and then we leave at 10 am.

It is just a one hour trip and around 12:30 pm we will come back to our school. In case of any kind of delay, we will inform you through phone. The fee for this trip is 10 pounds from your side and the rest will be paid by the school.

Yours truly,

Ana Richards

Given Below are a few Permission Letter samples for a clearer Idea.

Copyright Permission Request Letter Permission Letter to Organise Blood Donation Camp

Police Permission Letter for DJ/Loudspeaker in English If you have a wedding in your family or there is a party in your house and you are planning to have a DJ arrangement or loudspeaker, it is important that you get permission from police.

Permission Letter For Seminar A permission letter for seminar, as its name says, it is written to seek permission from an authority to conduct a seminar on a specific topic.

Leave Permission Letter A leave permission letter is written to get leave from an organization or a company for a certain period of time.

Permission Letter for Child to Travel Permission letter for child travel is a formal letter written by parents allowing his/her child to travel without them.

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8 Parent Consent Letter for School: Format & Samples

Written by Shiksha Press

Published on: August 22, 2023

Parent Consent Letter for School: Format & Samples

Parent Consent Letter:

In today’s complex and constantly changing academic environment, the bridge between the school’s responsibility and a parent’s trust often lies in a single piece of paper. This essential documentation, known as the Parent Consent Letter for School , encompasses a variety of forms such as the Consent letter for school trip , Consent letter for extracurricular activity , Consent letter for medical treatment , and even a Consent letter for travel .

These Consent Letters becomes a mandatory requirement when students are about to embark on field trips, participate in sports events, or join other school activities. Not only does it assure the school that parents are aware of and in agreement with the activity, but it also serves as a testament to mutual understanding and trust.

Why is the Parent Consent Letter for School Important?

The significance of the Parent Consent Letter for School cannot be overstated. Schools need to ensure they have the legal backing and understanding of parents when taking students out of the conventional classroom setting, whether it’s a trip to a local museum or an interstate competition.

Legal Protection : In the unfortunate event of an accident, the school can show that they had informed the parents about potential risks and had gotten consent.

Building Trust : When a school diligently asks for permission, it strengthens the trust between educational institutions and parents.

Clear Communication : This letter ensures that parents are aware of the whereabouts and activities of their child.

Tips for Crafting an Effective Consent Letter

Here are some essential tips to help you draft a comprehensive consent letter:

1. Start with a distinct heading that clearly signifies the purpose of the consent.

2. Outline any specific requirements or expectations you have from the recipient.

3. Clearly state the time frame for which the consent is applicable or the duration of the program/activity.

4. Incorporate pertinent details like names, addresses, and contact information of all involved parties.

5. Define the terms and conditions, or the agreement guidelines, associated with the undertaking. Clearly spell out any benefits or compensation that participants can expect.

6. The signature is Important; it symbolizes the recipient’s acceptance and agreement to the contents of the letter. Ensure it is prominently placed.

Standard Format of a Parent Consent Letter for School

• How to write a consent letter from parents to school for school trip?

Consent letter format

Date…………………..

The principal Your School Name City name,

Subject: – Consent to send the ward to a camp / Picnic / Tour.

Dear Sir / Madam

I would like to send my son / daughter to the Camp/Picnic/Tour to …………………………… organised by the School from ……………To………… I understand & agree that the organizers will do their best for the safe & smooth conduct of the camp / tour, still in case of any unnatural happening; I will not hold the school responsible.

Details of the student Student’s Name : ………………………………………

Grade…………………………… Section…………….Roll No………………………

Contact details……………………….

(Parents signature) Name……………………………

5 Samples of Consent Letters to send the ward to a camp / Picnic / Tour.

• How do I write a letter of parental consent?

Date: 21st August 2023 The Principal Greenwood High School New York City

Subject: Consent to send the ward to a camp.

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to send my son to the Adventure Camp organized by the School from 1st September to 5th September. I understand & agree that the organizers will do their best for the safe & smooth conduct of the camp. Still, in case of any unnatural happening, I will not hold the school responsible. Details of the student: Student’s Name: John Doe Grade: 8 Section: A Roll No: 23 Contact details: 123-456-7890

(Parent’s signature) Name: Robert Doe

Consent Letter 2:

Date: 21st August 2023 The Principal Sunrise International School Los Angeles

Subject: Consent to send the ward to a picnic.

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to send my daughter to the Picnic at Crystal Lake organized by the School from 10th September to 11th September. I understand & agree that the organizers will take all necessary precautions for a safe event. Still, in any unforeseen incident, I will not hold the school responsible. Details of the student: Student’s Name: Emily Smith Grade: 6 Section: C Roll No: 15 Contact details: 123-456-9870

(Parent’s signature) Name: Laura Smith

Consent Letter 3:

Date: 21st August 2023 The Principal Starlight Academy Chicago

Subject: Consent to send the ward to a tour.

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to send my son to the Historical Tour to Washington D.C. organized by the School from 5th October to 10th October. I understand & agree that the school will ensure all safety measures. However, in case of any unexpected event, I won’t blame the school. Details of the student: Student’s Name: Alex Johnson Grade: 9 Section: B Roll No: 32 Contact details: 123-654-0987

(Parent’s signature) Name: Michael Johnson

Consent Letter 4:

Date: 21st August 2023 The Principal Rainbow High School San Francisco

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to send my daughter to the Art Camp organized by the School from 15th September to 20th September. I am confident about the safety measures taken by the school, but if something untoward happens, I won’t hold the school accountable. Details of the student: Student’s Name: Sarah Brown Grade: 7 Section: D Roll No: 45 Contact details: 321-654-7890

(Parent’s signature) Name: Richard Brown

Consent Letter 5:

Date: 21st August 2023 The Principal Golden Gate Academy San Diego

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to send my son to the Picnic at Sandy Beach organized by the School on 25th September. I am aware of and appreciate the safety protocols in place, but I will not hold the school liable in the event of any mishaps. Details of the student: Student’s Name: Jake Wilson Grade: 10 Section: E Roll No: 12 Contact details: 987-123-4567

(Parent’s signature) Name: David Wilson

While the specifics can vary, a typical Parent Consent Letter for School follows a general format:

Some More Sample Consent Letters

Date Principal School’s Name City

Subject: Consent for [Activity]

I am [Parent’s Name], the parent of [Student’s Name], who is in Class [Grade], Section [Section] in Your School. I am writing this Consent letter to grant permission for my child to participate in [Activity] scheduled for [Date/s].

I trust the school’s Authority to ensuring the well-being of my Kids. However, I acknowledge that unforeseen incidents can occur, for which I will not hold the school accountable.

In case of any needs or emergencies, you can Call me if there is something important at [Your Contact Details].

[Your Name]

Samples of Parent Consent Letter for School

Sample 1: for a field trip.

August 25, 2023 Principal Springfield High School Springfield

Subject: Consent for Museum Trip

Respected Teacher/ Principal/ Headmaster/ Sir/ Madam,

I am Karanti Pal, mother of [name of Student] who is in Grade 10, Section A in your school. I’m granting permission for [Name] to attend the trip to the National Museum on September 5, 2023.[Change the date]

I believe such educational excursions are beneficial for students and I trust the school’s safety protocols. I understand that unforeseen events can arise so I acknowledge the school’s limited control over such incidents.

For any concerns or emergencies, you can contact me at [Mobile Number].

Sample 2: Consent Letter For a Sports Event

Subject: Consent for Basketball Championship

Hello Sir/ Mam,

I am [name of parent], father of [name of Student] who is in Grade 12, Section C in your school. I am providing my consent for [name of Student] to participate in the Basketball Championship from September 10-15, 2023. [date can be changed]

I appreciate the school for promoting sports among students and trust the measures in place for their safety. I’m aware of the risks inherent in sports activities and will not place blame on the school for unexpected occurrences.

For any queries or emergencies, please contact me at [Mobile Number].

The Parent Consent Letter for School acts as a formal channel of communication. These Letters ensuring transparency between parents and the educational institution. By using the format and samples provided, the process becomes streamlined and it’s ensuring that students can safely participate in enriching school activities with their parents fully informed and in agreement.

Whether you’re a school administrator or a parent, always remember the profound significance of this simple yet essential document.

Conclusion: Summary of Post 

n the modern educational environment, a well-drafted consent letter is a significant bridge between school activities and parental trust. As you navigate through this post, you’ll find various resources, including the Image of Parents consent letter sample for school PDF and the practical Parents consent letter sample for school PDF . For those planning school trips, the Image of Parents consent letter for school trip and the detailed Parents consent letter for school trip can be immensely helpful.

For general school-related permissions, the Image of Parents consent letter to school and the Parents consent letter to school offer templates that cater to common needs. The fundamental Image of Consent letter format provides a foundation, making the crafting of specific letters like the Consent letter from parents to school for picnic more straightforward. Educators, on the other hand, can refer to the Image of Consent letter format for School Teacher and the comprehensive Consent letter format for School Teacher .

Lastly, for parents seeking templates on permissions for teachers, the Image of Permission letter from parents to teacher and the Permission letter from parents to teacher are excellent starting points. If picnics or field trips are on the horizon, the Image of Permission letter from parents to teacher for picnic and the Permission letter from parents to teacher for picnic can be invaluable tools. As parents and educators, it’s crucial to maintain open communication, and these templates serve as an effective medium for that purpose.

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School Tour

School tours are great fun but can be very daunting for new and even more experienced teachers. These tips will help make the trip less stressful.

• Find a place- usually tours are linked to the curriculum. There’s lots of options throughout the country from farms to galleries and museums to adventure parks. (Check price and availability)
• Find a date that suits (have 3/4 options in mind) – call and book – approve with principal. Decide on the mode of transport to get to the place. (Book this too).
• Visit the place if possible – get an idea of what the children will see/do and any problem areas.
• Confirm with the place and the bus company 2 weeks before the date of the trip.
• If the trip is expensive – send a letter home with plenty of notice so parents can pay the cost in installments.

• Send a letter to parents with details about the trip, cost, and what the children need to bring with them. (Packed lunch, spending money, rain gear, change of clothes etc.)
• Confirm dates with principal and see which other staff can accompany you. Also check if 1/2 parents can come too.
• Send home permission slips.

• Talk to the children about the trip – what they will see/do, who will be coming with them, what they need to bring, the rules for going on a school trip. Also go through what they need to bring with them.
• Photocopy a worksheet for the children to do when on the trip (This is great for museum/gallery trips as it gives a good focus)
• Make sure you have all the permission slips.
• Get a list of contact information for parents in case you are late back or there is an accident on the trip and you can’t contact the school/there is no one in school (if you arrive back later than school finishes)

• Mobile phone (to be able to contact school/parents if necessary)
• Toilet paper
• Sick bags (for long bus journey)
• Packed lunch (and a little extra – in case someone forgets their lunch)
• Do a headcount at the start of the day. (Check regularly throughout the day)
• Go through the rules once more.
• Make sure everyone has been to the toilet.
• On the bus; check seatbelts, make sure no child is sitting beside an emergency exit etc.
• If the children are being split into 2 groups – be careful of the groupings (keep children who don’t work well together apart).
• When changing location do a headcount.
• When walking on the road/footpath – one adult needs to be at the front and one at the back (if there’s more than 2 then another adult should be in the middle)
• Children must stay with their partner at all times
• If children need to use the bathroom- they go in pairs with their partner and an adult.
• Take lots of photos of what you do/see and of the children (great to have for a display and to look back on at the end of the year.)
• Relax and enjoy the day!

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Arkansas led the nation sending letters home from school about obesity. did it help.

Kavitha Cardoza

Since Arkansas started sending the obesity letters to parents, the state's childhood obesity rates rose to nearly 24% from 21%. During the pandemic, the state obesity rate hit a high of more than 26%. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption

Since Arkansas started sending the obesity letters to parents, the state's childhood obesity rates rose to nearly 24% from 21%. During the pandemic, the state obesity rate hit a high of more than 26%.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sixth-grade boys were lining up to be measured in the Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School library. As they took off their shoes and emptied their pockets, they joked about being the tallest.

"It's an advantage," said one. "You can play basketball," said another. "A taller dude can get more girls!" a third student offered.

Everyone laughed. What they didn't joke about was their weight.

Anndrea Veasley, the school's registered nurse, had them stand one by one. One boy, Christopher, slumped as she measured his height. "Chin up slightly," she said. Then Veasley asked him to stand backward on a scale so he didn't see the numbers. She silently noted his height as just shy of 4 feet, 7 inches, and his weight as 115.6 pounds.

Lifesaving or stigmatizing? Parents wrestle with obesity treatment options for kids

His parents later would be among thousands to receive a letter beginning, "Many children in Arkansas have health problems caused by their weight." The letter includes each student's measurements as well as their calculated body mass index. The BMI number categorizes each child as "underweight," "normal," "overweight," or "obese." Christopher's BMI of 25.1 put him in the obese range.

In 2003, Arkansas became the first state to send home BMI reports about all students as part of a broader anti-obesity initiative. But in the 20 years since, the state's childhood obesity rates have risen to nearly 24% from 21%, reflecting a similar, albeit higher, trajectory than national rates. During the pandemic, the state obesity rate hit a high of more than 26%.

Still, at least 23 states followed Arkansas' lead and required height and weight assessments of students. Some have since scaled back their efforts after parents raised concerns.

One school district in Wyoming used to include a child's BMI score in report cards , a practice it has since stopped. Ohio allows districts to opt in, and last year just two of 611 school districts reported BMI information to the state. And Massachusetts stopped sending letters home . Even Arkansas changed its rules to allow parents to opt out.

Multiple studies have shown that these reports, or "fat letters" as they're sometimes mockingly called, have had no effect on weight loss. And some nutritionists, psychologists, and parents have criticized the letters, saying they can lead to weight stigma and eating disorders.

BMI as a tool has come under scrutiny, too, because it does not consider differences across racial and ethnic groups, sex, gender, and age. In 2023, the American Medical Association called the BMI "imperfect" and suggested it be used alongside other tools such as visceral fat measurements, body composition, and genetic factors.

All that highlights a question: What purpose do BMI school measurements and letters serve? Nearly 20% of American children were classified as obese just before the pandemic — up from only 5% some 50 years ago — and lockdowns made the problem worse. It's unclear what sorts of interventions might reverse the trend.

Joe Thompson, a pediatrician who helped create Arkansas' program and now leads the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement , said BMI letters are meant to be a screening tool, not a diagnostic test, to make parents aware if their child is at risk of developing serious health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

Sharing this information with them is critical, he said, given that many don't see it as a problem because obesity is so prevalent. Arkansas is also a rural state, so many families don't have easy access to pediatricians, he said.

Don't Focus On Kids' Weight Gain. Focus On Healthy Habits Instead

Thompson said he's heard from many parents who have acted on the letters. "To this day, they are still our strongest advocates," he said.

The program also led to new efforts to reduce obesity. Some school districts in Arkansas have instituted " movement breaks ," while others have added vegetable gardens , cooking classes , and walking trails . One district sought funding for bicycles . The state does not study whether these efforts are working.

Researchers say the BMI data also serves an important purpose in illuminating population-level trends , even if it isn't helpful to individuals.

Parents are generally supportive of weighing children in school, and the letters have helped increase their awareness of obesity, research shows. At the same time, few parents followed up with a health care provider or made changes to their child's diet or physical activity after getting a BMI letter, several other studies have found.

In what is considered the gold-standard study of BMI letters , published in 2020, researchers in California found that the letters home had no effect on students' weight. Hannah Thompson , a University of California-Berkeley assistant professor who co-authored the study, said most parents didn't even remember getting the letters. "It's such a tiny-touch behavioral intervention," she said.

Arkansas now measures all public school students in even grades annually — except for 12th graders because by that stage, the pediatrician Joe Thompson said, the students are "beyond the opportunities for schools to have an impact." The change also came after many boys in one school wore leg weights under their jeans as a prank, he said.

Kimberly Collins, 50, remembers being confused by the BMI letters sent to her from the Little Rock School District stating that all her children were overweight, and that one daughter was considered obese.

"It offended me as a mama," she said. "It made me feel like I wasn't doing my job."

She didn't think her children looked overweight and the family pediatrician had never brought it up as a concern.

Hannah Thompson, the researcher from California, said that's the biggest problem with BMI letters: Parents don't know what to do with the information. Without support to help change behavior, she said, the letters don't do much.

"You find out your child is asthmatic, and you can get an inhaler, right?" she said. "You find out that your child is overweight and where do you even go from there? What do you do?"

Kevin Gee , a professor at the University of California-Davis, who has studied BMI letters , said the mailings miss cultural nuances. In some communities, for example, people prefer their children to be heavier, associating it with comfort and happiness. Or some eat foods that they know aren't very nutritious but are an important way of expressing love and traditions.

"There's a lot of rich contextual pieces that we know influences rates of obesity," Gee said. "And so how do we balance that information?"

Collins' daughter, now 15, said that as she's grown older she increasingly feels uncomfortable about her weight. People stare at her and sometimes make comments. (Collins' mother asked that her daughter's name not be published because of her age and the sensitive nature of the subject.)

"On my birthday, I went to get my allergy shots and one of the nurses told me, 'You are getting chubbier,'" she said. "That didn't make me feel the best."

How Doctors Can Stop Stigmatizing — And Start Helping — Kids With Obesity

Collins said it pains her to see her soft-spoken daughter cover herself with her arms as if she's trying to hide. The teenager has also begun sneaking food and avoids the mirror by refusing to turn on the bathroom light, Collins said. The girl signed up for tennis but stopped after other children made fun of her, her mother said.

Looking back, Collins said, while she wishes she had paid more attention to the BMI letters, she also would have liked practical suggestions on what to do. Collins said she had already been following the short list of recommended healthy practices, including feeding her children fruits and vegetables and limiting screen time. She isn't sure what else she could have done.

Now everyone has an opinion on her daughter's weight, Collins said. One person told her to put a lock on the fridge. Another told her to buy vegan snacks. Her mother bought them a scale.

"It's a total uphill climb," Collins said with a sigh.

This article was produced as a part of a project for the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship .

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

When are primary school places for September 2024 announced?

F or parents and guardians of young children, the spring brings with it a bittersweet moment – shortly after the joys of the Easter holidays, families hear when their little ones will be leaving them and heading off to school .

Primary school places are sent out in April each year, letting families know where their young children will be going to school.

When are primary school places announced and can you appeal if you don’t get your first choices?

When are primary school places announced?

Primary school places for the upcoming school year starting in September 2024 will be revealed today – Tuesday, April 16 .  

The quickest way to find out where your child has been placed is to visit the portal on your local council’s website.

You log on via the same site you filled out your application form on and results are available from midnight on April 16.

Parents will receive the decision either by letter or email from their council.

But exactly what time the results are released varies from area to area.

How to appeal your child’s primary school offer

Unfortunately, it is possible that your child won’t get their first choice for primary school.

If this does happen, firstly, you must not reject your first school offer . You cannot reject the first offer until you have secured another offer.

Your next steps, should you be unhappy, include:

Join a waiting list – you can check if your child can be added to a waiting list for the school, or another school nearby. This can be done using the ‘waiting lists’ page on your local council’s website.

Apply for a different school – you can contact your local School Admissions team if you want to apply for a school you didn’t apply for originally. You can do this to also be added to a waiting list for a school you named as a lower preference.

Appeal – you have the right to appeal to an independent panel for a place at any of your preferred schools that haven’t offered you a place.

But even if you are appealing a decision, you are advised to accept the offer your child received so that they have a school place in case the appeal is unsuccessful.

Your offer letter will outline details on how to appeal, with parents allowed 20 days from when the offer was given to appeal an admission.

If you do appeal, you’ll need to submit evidence to support your claim, which will then be investigated by a panel.

When does the new school year start?

For most children in the United Kingdom, the new school year will start on Monday, September 2.

However, there’s always the possibility of slight differences based on region so it’s best to check school term dates through your local council’s website.

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Louisville's talking about the JCPS vote to end busing for magnets. Here's what they're saying.

A lot has happened in the past week that will shape Jefferson County Public Schools next school year. The Board  voted to end busing for magnet and traditional schools  Wednesday night with two exceptions – Western and Central High Schools. Soon after that, changes to school start times were announced and changes may continue before things are finalized for next year. Since then, I've heard from many families across our community. I also felt compelled to write a column. In case you missed it, here's what the community has been saying about the board vote.

Letters from the community

We received letters to the editor right after the vote happened, expressing concern. You can read some of those here:

Letters to the editor: JCPS board has no clue what they're doing voting to end busing for magnet schools

If you have anything to add, send a letter to the editor here .

What was the point of the transportation audit?

The question I cannot get out of my head since the vote is why they paid  Prismatic nearly $225,000  for an audit of the transportation plan if they were going to ignore the results? Because what happened at the April 10 special school board meeting was a complete disregard for the audit recommendations. You can read the rest of that one here:

JCPS paid for a transportation audit. Then they ignored the results and failed 20,000 students.

JCPS history repeats itself

Rev. Kevin Cosby reflected on the history and how this vote looked a bit familiar. He wrote, "Today, it is another Black pastor in the community who is taking to these pages in response to yet  another abysmal transportation decision by the JCPS . It is a decision that will undoubtedly negatively impact so many Black families here in the district’s western portion." You can read the rest of his op-ed here:

JCPS repeats history: Another bad busing decision, affecting Black families.

JCPS board should apologize

Terrance Sullivan, Vice Chair for JCPS Advisory Council for Racial Equity, feels the JCPS Board owes the community an apology for the behavior exhibited during the meeting. You can read his op-ed here:

Apology needed: JCPS school board owes their staff, students and community an apology for the 'special meeting'

You can join the conversation on this or another hot topic by submitting your letter to the editor here . Letters of up to 200 words may be submitted and must include name, address, community and daytime phone number. Op-eds are also welcome except they should be 500 words or fewer and also include a one-sentence bio and head shot. You can read those full submission guidelines here:

How to submit a guest opinion column or op-ed to The Courier Journal

Bonnie Jean Feldkamp is the community engagement and opinion editor for The Louisville Courier Journal. She can be reached via email at [email protected] or on social media  @WriterBonnie .

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Alaska parents and legislators scramble for answers after judge rules homeschool allotments are unconstitutional

Education Commissioner Deena Bishop presents to the House Judiciary Committee in Juneau on Monday, April 15, 2024 as legislators try to understand the impacts of a far-reaching court decision on homeschooled students. (Sean Maguire / ADN)

Thousands of Alaska students face uncertainty about their education after a court decision issued late Friday upended the state’s long-standing correspondence schools.

Correspondence programs — which allow Alaska students to be homeschooled under the supervision of public school teachers and using public funds — have been a part of Alaska’s education system for decades.

But Anchorage Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman ruled Friday that key statutes governing the correspondence programs violate a constitutional prohibition on the use of public funds for private or religious institutions.

Zeman, who was appointed to the bench in 2020 by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, struck down as unconstitutional two statutes that were originally proposed by Dunleavy when he was a state senator in 2013.

Enacted a decade ago, the statutes allowed parents to receive thousands of dollars per year and use that funding for their children’s education with few limitations, including paying private and religious vendors. Increasingly, the money — up to $4,500 per student — has been used directly to cover tuition at private schools.

Zeman struck down those statues in their entirety, leaving lawmakers, school administrators, parents and students to wonder: what is the future of Alaska’s correspondence programs?

In a social media post on Saturday, Dunleavy said Zeman’s ruling could mean “much if not all the correspondence homeschool education that we do in Alaska may be unconstitutional.” He said his administration planned to request a stay — meaning a temporary pause in the implementation of the decision — and file an appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court. However, the Department of Law did not indicate that the court filings had been submitted on Monday, nor supply a copy of them.

“To say this would be disruptive would be an understatement. This disruption, coupled with the fact that we and many Alaskans believe this ruling is flawed, leads us to ask for a stay and quick resolution with our Supreme Court,” Dunleavy wrote.

The ruling came in a case filed by Alaska parents and teachers, and funded by NEA-Alaska, the largest teacher union in the state. On Monday, the plaintiffs asked the court to stay the effects of the judge’s order until the end of June, giving students time to finish the school year as planned and giving lawmakers time to consider whether to implement new legislation that would allow correspondence programs to continue operating in some capacity.

Tom Klaameyer, president of NEA-Alaska, said Monday that the union supported the short-term stay, adding he was “surprised at how broad the ruling was” but pleased by the court striking down what he called “a backdoor voucher program.”

“It is unconventional for prevailing parties to seek a stay of ruling in which they prevailed,” wrote attorney Scott Kendall, representing the plaintiffs, in a court filing . “However, plaintiffs do not wish to cause any undue hardship or disruption resulting from the timing of the order.”

The plaintiffs said they would oppose an attempt to delay the implementation of the decision beyond the end of the current fiscal year, which could be requested by the state or by a group of parents who intervened in the case.

“Now that these statutes are known to be defective, allowing additional unconstitutional spending to occur under them beyond June 30, 2024 would compound those violations and continue unlawful expenditures of public funds in amounts in the millions,” Kendall wrote in the filing.

Education Commissioner Deena Bishop wrote in a letter to district superintendents on Monday that the department intends “to take every action possible to protect this public school option for all correspondence students currently enrolled in the state.”

Education Commissioner Deena Bishop answers questions from the media on Monday, April 15, 2024 in Juneau after an Anchorage Superior Court judge on Friday struck down as unconstitutional reimbursements paid to homeschool students. (Sean Maguire / ADN)

Under existing state law, districts are allotted 90% of the Base Student Allocation, or around $5,360, for every student enrolled in a correspondence program. A certain percentage of that determined by the program — typically 50% or more — is then allotted for students directly to spend on educational expenses as they see fit. The remainder is used to cover the operational costs of the program, including paying teachers and staff.

Families immediately wondered not only whether they could continue to spend their cash allotments, but whether their programs could continue to operate as they had known them. The statutes struck down by the court also included a framework known as Individual Learning Plans, or ILPs, used by every correspondence program to define a student’s course of study.

Bishop said the state would seek to maintain the status quo “until the Alaska Supreme Court has had a full opportunity to review this case.” If the case is appealed to the Supreme Court, the court could issue an expedited decision within weeks. But a full decision timeline could take months or longer.

“It is possible the Superior Court order could become effective before the Alaska Supreme Court fully reviews the case,” Bishop wrote to superintendents, adding that districts should consult with their attorneys.

In the Matansuka-Susitna Borough School District, where about 18% of students are enrolled in correspondence programs, Assistant Superintendent Katherine Gardner said the district is working with an attorney and the state to learn how the decision impacts its operations.

Jason Johnson, superintendent of the Galena City School District, which houses IDEA, a correspondence program with more than 7,000 students statewide, said in a letter on Monday to the families of students that “IDEA remains confident in Alaska’s support for the homeschooling model.”

“Expect to continue to rely on our team to support you as we continue partnering in the education of your child,” Johnson wrote to parents.

‘Use of public funds’

Jen Griffis, a parent of three children enrolled in IDEA, said she has questions about the ruling’s impact on correspondence programs “beyond just the allotment.”

Griffis’ children’s allotments go to purchasing things like math curricula, writing courses, literature courses, piano lessons and field trips, she said. All the curricula her children use are on a list approved by IDEA.

“The idea of utilizing these funds to pay for private school tuition did not even cross my mind,” said Griffis. “I always viewed this as a use of public funds.”

She said she was not considering sending her children to a brick-and-mortar public school as an alternative. “But I have a strong sense that there are families that are definitely looking at weighing those options,” she said.

Dean O’Dell, Director of IDEA, said by email that around 2.9% of IDEA’s students take one or more private school classes, “all of which meet the criteria of being fully non-sectarian in both materials and instruction.”

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, is one of many lawmakers who have enrolled their children in correspondence programs.

His two kids currently attend a private Christian school in Kenai. They are also enrolled in a correspondence program. Ruffridge said he does not use the allotment to cover tuition costs, but he uses it to pay for his son’s music lessons and his daughter’s dance lessons.

Rep. Will Stapp, a Fairbanks Republican, also said he uses an allotment through IDEA to cover the cost of dance lessons for his 6-year-old daughter. Rep. Sarah Vance, a Homer Republican, said she also has used correspondence allotments to cover the cost of dance and music lessons for her children — three of whom are currently enrolled in correspondence programs.

“I think the majority of correspondence programs use those allotments well and constitutionally for things that are not religious or private institutions,” said Ruffridge. He added there were “some concerning components” that “probably should be addressed.”

“If you’re using your homeschool allotment to pay for private tuition, that’s not the intent of that allotment money,” he said.

House Speaker Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican, said that addressing the uncertainty created by the court ruling would be “a top priority” for the House Majority. Fewer than five weeks remain in the current legislative session.

The Alaska Policy Forum, a conservative group formerly directed by Bethany Marcum — who previously worked as Dunleavy’s legislative aide — has published a list of correspondence programs that can be used to get tuition reimbursement at private schools. In 2022, the list included seven correspondence programs that collectively partnered with 11 private schools.

This year, the list numbers 10 correspondence programs. The Raven Homeschool program can be used to get $2,700 in tuition covered at “all private schools,” according to the webpage. The Anchorage Family Partnership school can be used to get up to $4,500 reimbursed at eight listed private schools.

Marcum, who is now state director of Americans for Prosperity Alaska, said in an interview Monday that she was disappointed by the court decision. She hoped that the Legislature would consider a constitutional amendment that clarifies the prohibition on “direct benefits” to private and religious educational institutions. She also wanted clarity around the meaning of “private educational institution” as it appears in the constitution, and pointed to instances where private education institutions were getting public funds prior to the 2014 law change.

Anchorage School District spokesman Corey Young declined to respond to questions on the amount of district funds that have been used to subsidize private school tuition. Under the state statute that was struck down by the judge, the district was required to record all expenditures of state funds by correspondence students within the district, and audit those expenses regularly.

In a note to families of the roughly 2,000 correspondence students in Anchorage, the district wrote it “will work to make sure there is no disruption to students’ educational needs.”

Sen. Jesse Kiehl, a Juneau Democrat who also enrolled his children in correspondence programs, said that before the 2014 change in law that incorporated the now-unconstitutional statutes, correspondence programs still provided students an annual allotment that could be used for things like a laptop or curriculum, but there was greater oversight from the district, and many more limitations on the kinds of permissible expenses.

“There were limits. And the 2014 law struck down — forbid — the limits,” said Kiehl. However, he said the court decision did not spell the end of correspondence programs, even without new legislative action.

“Worst case scenario, they could go back to the way it was done before the 2014 law,” said Kiehl. That would mean correspondence students could carry on purchasing curriculum from approved vendors, as long as they fall within the confines of the constitutional prohibition on the use of public funds at private or religious institutions.

Kiehl said that a legislative fix to correspondence school funding could also be packaged with other education-related priorities, including an increase for public education overall. Last month, Dunleavy vetoed an education funding package that included a $175 million funding boost for public schools, and lawmakers failed by one vote to override the veto.

Members of the House minority said Monday that the court decision should refocus lawmakers — whose attention has been on the budget and other issues — on education.

“In the wake of Friday’s decision and the many crises that continue to face our schools, the legislature must quickly act to provide adequate funding for our schools, reinstate a fair and competitive retirement for our educators, and provide certainty for students in correspondence programs,” said Minority Leader Rep. Calvin Schrage, an Anchorage independent.

Daily News reporter Amy Bushatz reported from Palmer.

Read the full ruling below:

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Bethany Marcum was the director of the Alaska Policy Forum. She is a former director of that group and is now state director of Americans for Prosperity Alaska.

Iris Samuels

Iris Samuels is a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News focusing on state politics. She previously covered Montana for The AP and Report for America and wrote for the Kodiak Daily Mirror. Contact her at [email protected].

Sean Maguire

Sean Maguire is a politics and general assignment reporter for the Anchorage Daily News based in Juneau. He previously reported from Juneau for Alaska's News Source. Contact him at [email protected].