Field Trips & Student Travel

Student on bus

** There are NO EXPLORE BUSES AVAILABLE for field trips.

** First Student Transportation (yellow buses) are limited for the 2023-2024 school year. Availability is first come, first served. 

NYS Connect Kids Field Trip Grant

NYS Parks Vendor ID: 100 000 3836

* Vendor ID needed for Connect Kids Grant (CKG)Field Trip applications.

All field trips must be approved by an ASL prior to submission of any documents.

2023-2024 Connect Kids Grant Price List

Transportation

The chart below provides an overview on how transportation is arranged for a field trip depending on the funding source. More detailed information can be found in the Field Trip Handbook.

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT •  Paying by purchase order and using a fund number (Ex. CSP, MAG, Title 1) Available 9:30 am to 1:30 pm • $44 per hour • Reserve a bus:Submit a Funded Trip Transportation Application via email: fundedtrip@buffaloschools.org  VS  FIRST STUDENT CHARTER Paying by check with Student Activity funds (Ex. Fundraising, PTO/PTA) Available 9:30 am to 1:30 pm $76 per hour Reserve a bus: Call (716) 897-5798

Volunteers for Field Trips

  • Parents/caregivers must submit an Application for Volunteers Form to “volunteer” and/or “chaperone” school events.

  • A volunteer form must be completed and submitted with the field trip request form at least 3-weeks in advance of the scheduled excursion to Janice Spencer (If a parent/caregiver is willing to chaperone more than one field trip, they will only need to submit the form one time).

  • The school principal should complete the bottom section of the form.

  • Schools must maintain copies of completed/approved Applications for Volunteers Forms.

  • Volunteers may serve as chaperones on field trips, but they must neither be assigned a group of students to independently monitor, nor should they ever be alone with students.

Student Safety Protocols for All BPS Field Trips

Any deviation of the below will likely result in disciplinary actions as outlined in the District’s Code of Conduct for students.

  • Students are not permitted to bring any illegal contraband or alcohol on field trips.

  • Students are not permitted to bring any weapons or dangerous instruments on field trips.

  • Students are not permitted to wander off alone. Students must always remain with classmates, teachers, and/or chaperones.

  • Chaperones must always account for all students.

* Field trip chaperones will be paired and assigned a group of students to supervise. Chaperones may NOT independently monitor students and should NEVER BE ALONE with a student or group of students.

Insurance

The Buffalo Board of Education established a procedure by which it self-funds its risks for which no insurance is purchased. A field trip Vendor may require the Lead Chaperone to submit a Self-Insurance Certification Letter. Any claims or questions should be forwarded to the Office of Legal Counsel at (716) 816-3742