WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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.
“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.
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