How to Write a Permission Slip for a Field Trip

Teachers typically send permission slips to parents before taking students on a field trip.

Schools often take students of various ages on field trips throughout the school year. Before the trip, most teachers ask that each student's parent sign a form giving permission for the child to attend the event. Permission slips are important because they give a parent the opportunity to provide the teacher with important information about the student's health. In addition, the document ensures that the school does not take the student off of school grounds against a parent's wishes.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

1. Describe the field trip. Include the agenda, goal of the trip, the cost and anything that the child will need to bring, for example writing utensils or a packed lunch. Also include the departure and return times for the field trip, as well as the kind of transportation that the students will be taking. Write this note on a sheet separate from the permission slip.

2. Write "Field Trip Permission Slip" at the top of a new page.

3. Write "Date" and leave a line of space for the parent to fill in the date.

4. Skip one or two lines. Write a statement along the lines of "My daughter/son," followed by a blank space in which the parent will fill in the child's name. Continue with "has my permission to attend the Washington Middle School field trip to the Museum of Modern Art, which will take place on Friday, October 7, 2009, during school hours."

5. Write "Medical Information" and provide several lines of space in which parents can discuss any allergies or medications that the child must take during school hours. Ask the parent to explain when and how to administer any medications. Have the parent check a box indicating that he gives the teacher the right to seek medical help for his child in the event of an emergency if he cannot be reached.

6. Skip another one or two lines. Write "Parent's Signature" and provide enough space for the parent to sign.

7. Write "Emergency phone number" and leave enough space for the parent to fill in his or her emergency contact information.

8. Write "The permission slip must be returned no later than" at the end of the document and provide the deadline. It is a good idea to include this information on both the permission slip and accompanying note to ensure that the parent is aware of the deadline.

Tips & Warnings

• Type and save the permission slip to your computer so that you can use it as a template for future field trips.

References

• Field trip planning guide
• Getting permissions
• Field trip

Resources

• Sample student permission slip