District to pilot Daring Culture and College tour Oct. 9–13, offers payment plan and scholarships

The district will pilot a Daring Culture and College ed tour Oct. 9–13 that administration presented to the Program Personnel Committee on Aug. 11, 2025. The trip, to sites in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, is billed as a districtwide, curriculum‑aligned opportunity for college exposure and cultural learning.

The pilot is designed to be accessible: the per‑student fee is $390, the district will cover an estimated $3,400 of chaperone costs, and families may use a three‑payment plan (initial $100, then two $145 payments) to spread costs. The committee was told the trip will run only if at least 40 students enroll and the maximum group size is 48. If the committee and full board approve, staff said communications to families will go out immediately after board action.

Ben Rodriguez, director of college and career readiness, told the committee the proposal grew from a June 2025 directive to make ed tours more accessible. "Daring ed tours will be districtwide yearly travel experiences that advance the Daring mission by connecting students to opportunities in career exploration, service learning, leadership, cross‑cultural connections," Rodriguez said. Larry Varne, director of equity and inclusion, described the itinerary as an opportunity to visit a spectrum of universities and cultural landmarks and called the trip a "transformative learning experience" intended to broaden students' postsecondary awareness.

Committee members asked about funding and timing. Varne said the $3,400 district cost is budgeted from the district’s professional learning / teacher development line tied to the Daring Ed Tours program. When a committee member asked whether the $3,400 was per student, Rodriguez clarified: "No" — the $3,400 covers chaperone/district expenses; the student fee is $390. Staff said the communication to families would either go out this week if the board delegation allows it or the day after full board approval.

Staff described next steps: assemble a cross‑district planning committee, finalize the pilot itinerary and budget, and bring the proposal to the full board for Category 1 tour approval (a non‑IHSA overnight trip of more than 200 miles). The committee did not take a formal vote; members asked staff to include a brief summary and context when the item goes to the full board to explain the program’s origins and how future tours will be scheduled and communicated.

If approved by the full board, the district intends to offer multiple Daring ed tours annually and to develop a four‑year calendar of opportunities so families and students can plan in advance.