A field trip permission slip is a form where a parent or legal guardian gives written approval for a child to join a school or group trip. It lists the trip details, the child’s health insurance information and emergency contacts. Fill out the FormsPal template online, or download the PDF and print it.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
A field trip permission slip is a legal document that authorizes a school chaperone who is not a parent or legal guardian to accompany a child and seek medical assistance on their behalf if needed. The content of this permission slip should include the destination and contact information of the parents for an emergency call.
Every school is required by law to obtain written permission from parents to participate in the field trip. After all, children are under the protection of the school or organization during the field trip, even after leaving the school premises.
To eliminate any risks and to do it lawfully, the teacher or school administration needs written permission from the parents. A school trip takes children away from school grounds, so the adults in charge look after them for the whole trip.
A field trip can differ by the activity type, destination, duration, and travel distance. The longer the field trip is and the farther away from home the kid goes, the more detailed and nuanced the contents of the permission slip need to be.
The FormsPal template has these parts:
In general, all permission slips are issued quite simply. Still, these documents should contain all the necessary information about the child, the trip (location, activities, date of the trip, and its duration), as well as emergency contacts. The parent’s signature will mean that they consent to the child’s participation in these activities.
Depending on the organization that requires the document, there are various types of field trip permission slips. Common examples include:
The form for filling out field trip permission slips is usually standardized and can be divided into two main types: blanket or general permission slip and informed consent slip. Although their general content for travel information will be the same, these permission slip templates vary by the level and scope of legal responsibility they impose on the organization or school.
A blanket or general field trip permission slip is a document that plays the role of getting rid of attraction in a judge. By signing such a document, the parent confirms their awareness and also releases the organizer from liability for children’s injuries they may receive during the trip. Even controversial cases due to the carelessness of the accompanying adults or organizations cannot be held accountable.
An informed consent slip is a more detailed document that will explain the purpose of the activity and any possible risks during the trip or as a result of the child’s participation in them. By signing such a document, the parent releases the school from the possibility of being held accountable for events with inherent risk. But the school will still be liable for any damage resulting from oversight or negligence.
These steps follow the FormsPal template on this page. Fill it out online and download the PDF, or print the blank PDF and write in your answers by hand. The form has eight parts, listed below in the order they appear.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Field Trip Permission Slip template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
The form asks you to print legibly or type all information, so filling it out online is a good choice if your handwriting is hard to read.
Step 1: Student Information
Print the student’s name, ID number and grade. Then add the parent or legal guardian’s name, phone number and email address. Next, enter any food or dietary restrictions and mark Yes or No for over-the-counter pain medication and for sunscreen.
The parent or guardian must indicate special food restrictions, any allergens, and dietary restrictions so the school can make menu adjustments during the trip and avoid risky situations.
Step 2: Field Trip Information
Enter the trip dates, its name or description, the planned activities, the location, how the children will travel, the name of the teacher or supervisor in charge and the cost.
The travel authorization must inform the parent of the trip’s destination point account, by what method the school will be transporting the children, the total cost of the trip, and the overall travel program.
Step 3: Cost Due Date, Programs and More
If the school asks for the cost by a certain date, write that date on the “no later than” line. Then describe any limits on the student’s participation under Programs, add anything else the school should know about the student and write any other instructions.
If there are any restrictions on activities during the trip, the parent must indicate them in the form.
Step 4: Medical Conditions: Reasonable Accommodations
Read the short statement about the student’s health, then list any reasonable accommodations you are asking for. The Emergency Medical Treatment paragraph that follows has nothing to fill in, so read it before you sign.
Step 5: Student’s Medical Insurance Information
Enter these details for the student’s health insurance. You can copy them from the student’s insurance card.
Step 6: Name of Named Insured
On the next page, write the name of the named insured. This is the person whose name is on the insurance policy.
Step 7: Emergency Contact Information
Give two emergency contacts. For each one, write a name, the relationship to the student and a phone number. Choose adults who are easy to reach while the class is away.
The parent or guardian must also provide emergency contacts in the permission slip for situations that are out of reach.
Step 8: Printed Name, Signature and Date
Read the permission paragraph above the signature line. Then print your name, sign and add the date. Keep a copy of the signed slip for your records.
By signing the permission slip, the parent agrees that they hold harmless the school district, school, organizer, and any representatives of the planned trip.
Even though the template is not an overcomplicated document to compose, missing out on the crucial details may lead to bad situations. Fill in every part of the form before the trip, so the school has your details at hand.
We tried to cover all possible nuances of the field trip in our customized permission slip templates to ensure that the child is fully protected during the trip. In contrast, the school is protected from unreasonable litigations.
These short answers cover common questions about these forms, from yearly permission slips to what the form asks for. You will also find a quick way to fill it out online and download the PDF.
If a school or organization has a clear outline of all planned activities and travel for the year, they may ask parents to sign an annual activity permission slip for children. However, contact information may become outdated, or all activities may not be indicated, and thus such a permission slip would not cover all aspects and will be limited in its power.
Therefore, this type of permission slip is not the most reliable one to use for the school or organization as there are a lot of loopholes to consider. It requires additional permissions for all extracurricular activities and field trips not included in the primary school schedule.
A permission slip has informational value for the parent and the ability to limit activities that may be prohibited to the child for health or other reasons. On the other hand, having a permission slip for each trip is solid legal protection for a school or organization.
The parent’s signature is sufficient to activate the permission action for most trips and activities. Together with the signature, the parent withdraws the claim to the school if something happens on the trip.
However, some schools may require that the form be notarized if the trip involves travel outside of the state or if the trip is of an extended nature. It is a usual practice to minimize the issues that may arise if the minor requires medical help and their parent are unavailable or if the state laws are slightly different.
The FormsPal template asks for these details:
Yes. Open the FormsPal template, answer the questions and download the PDF. You can also download the blank PDF and fill it in with the PDF editor before you print it.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
