Field Trip Permission Slip Template (Free, Ready to E-Sign)
A field trip permission slip tells families where their child is going, how they'll get there and who is watching them, and it gives the teacher what they need on the day: phone numbers, allergies and the go-ahead for emergency care. Here is a complete template for a school field trip, and the fastest way to get 25 slips back before the bus leaves.
In 30 seconds
- A field trip slip needs the destination, date and times, transport, chaperones, cost, lunch and what to wear.
- Collect two emergency contacts, allergies, medications and consent for emergency medical treatment.
- One parent or guardian signs. The signature can be electronic under the ESIGN Act and state law.
- Send one copy per family by email or text and see in real time who still hasn't signed.
What a field trip permission slip should include
A field trip is different from an ordinary activity at school: children leave the building, travel in a vehicle and spend hours with adults who may not be their teachers. The slip should cover each of those points.
- Trip details: destination name and address, date, departure and return times, and a rain date if there is one.
- Transport: who drives. If parent volunteers drive, many districts require proof of license and insurance, so say so on the slip.
- Chaperones: the lead teacher's cell phone during the trip, and a checkbox for parents who want to volunteer.
- Cost and lunch: fee, how to pay, and whether the school provides lunch or students bring their own.
- Clothing and items: closed shoes, layers, sunscreen, what not to bring.
- Health and emergency: two contacts, allergies, medications, conditions and an emergency treatment authorization.
Field trip permission slip template
FIELD TRIP PERMISSION SLIP
School: ______________________________ Teacher / class: ______________________________
Destination: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________
Date: ______________ Rain date: ______________
Leaves school at: ______ Returns to school at: ______
Purpose of the trip: ______________________________ (what students will learn or do)
Transportation: ☐ District school bus ☐ Chartered bus ☐ Public transit ☐ Walking ☐ Volunteer drivers (licensed and insured, as required by the district)
Lead teacher's phone during the trip: ______________ Chaperones: 1 adult for every ______ students
Cost: $ ________ per student, due by ______________ ☐ No cost. If cost is a problem for your family, please contact ______________ privately.
Lunch: ☐ Provided ☐ Bring a packed lunch (no glass containers) ☐ Money for lunch: $ ______
Students should wear / bring: ______________________________
STUDENT
Full name: ______________________________ Grade: ______ Date of birth: ______________
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Parent / guardian: ______________________________ Cell: ______________
Second contact: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________ Cell: ______________
HEALTH
Allergies: ______________________________
☐ My child carries an epinephrine auto-injector / inhaler and will bring it on the trip.
Medications needed during the trip (a separate medication authorization may be required): ______________________________
Medical conditions or needs the chaperones should know about: ______________________________
Health insurance: ______________________________ Member ID: ______________
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
If my child needs urgent medical care during the trip and I cannot be reached, I authorize school staff to seek emergency treatment, including ambulance transport and care by licensed medical personnel. ☐ Yes ☐ No, contact me first
PHOTOS
☐ Photos of my child taken on this trip may be shared with class families and on school channels. ☐ No photos, please.
VOLUNTEERING
☐ I would like to chaperone this trip. Phone: ______________ (the district may require a background check)
AGREEMENT
I give permission for my child to go on the field trip described above. I understand that students must follow school rules and the instructions of teachers and chaperones throughout the trip, and that a student who does not may be sent home at my expense. I understand that if my child does not attend, they will be given an alternative assignment at school. The information on this form is true and complete.
Parent / guardian name: ______________________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Please return this slip by: ______________
Fill it in and sign it free⬇ Download as Word (.docx)Free, no account.
For activities that don't leave school grounds, the shorter general permission slip is enough.
How to send it to the whole class
- Upload it. Fill in the trip details in Word, save as PDF and upload it, or snap a photo of the printed slip.
- Place the fields. A signature and date for the parent, text fields for the student's name and phone numbers, checkboxes for medical treatment, photos and volunteering. Add an "ask for a document" field if you need a photo of the insurance card.
- Bulk send to every family. Choose "a copy for each person" and paste the parents' emails or cell numbers. Each family gets its own link by email, text message or WhatsApp, and no one needs an account. Up to 20 families free, up to 500 on the Team plan.
- Get them back with the audit trail. Reminders go out automatically every two days. When everyone has signed you get the signed slips, each with a certificate of who signed, when and from which device.
Teacher's checklist for the day of the trip
- Print or download a list of who has signed and who hasn't. A student without a signed slip stays at school.
- Bring a copy of each slip, or have the signed PDFs on your phone, with the emergency numbers and allergies.
- Check that any epinephrine or inhalers listed on the slips are actually on the bus.
- Give chaperones the list of students in their group and the lead teacher's number.
State and district notes
Field trip rules are set mostly by school districts and state education departments, not by federal law. Many districts have a required form, a minimum notice period, rules for volunteer drivers and chaperone background checks, and a separate form for giving medication. If your district has its own form, use it: upload the district's PDF to MultiDocs instead of this template.
Electronic signatures are not the problem: under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001) and every state's electronic signature law, an e-signed permission slip has the same legal effect as a paper one. The exclusions in 15 U.S.C. § 7003, such as wills, court documents and certain notices, don't cover school forms.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.
FAQs
How far in advance should I send a field trip permission slip?
Two to three weeks is common, and your district may set a minimum. Sending it electronically helps, because reminders go out on their own.
Can a student go on a field trip without a signed permission slip?
Most districts say no. Verbal permission by phone is usually not accepted, which is why a slip signed from the parent's phone is useful when the paper copy goes missing.
Do both parents need to sign?
Usually one parent or legal guardian is enough. If there is a custody order that says otherwise, follow it. MultiDocs lets up to 20 people sign the same document if you need both.
Is an emailed or e-signed permission slip legal?
Yes. Federal and state law give electronic signatures the same effect as handwritten ones for this kind of form.
Can I include a liability waiver in the field trip slip?
You can add an assumption-of-risk paragraph, but whether a parent can waive a child's claims varies by state, and some states don't enforce waivers that parents sign for their children's claims. Ask your district first.
Can parents without email sign?
Yes. Send the link by text message or WhatsApp, or share a copyable link.
Official sources
- Cornell LII: 15 U.S.C. § 7001 (ESIGN Act)
- Cornell LII: 15 U.S.C. § 7003 (documents excluded from ESIGN)
We checked each source on November 6, 2026. If you spot an out-of-date fact, write to us at info@multidocs.es.