Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Travel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
High school teachers propose Europe study trip for summer 2026; cost estimated at $4,819 per student
Summary
High school social studies and English teachers presented a proposed curriculum‑linked student trip to London, Normandy, Paris and Berlin for July 2026, estimating a per‑student cost of about $4,819, a 6:1 student‑to‑chaperone ratio, and fundraising and scholarship options.
Drew Reese, a social studies teacher, and Lauren Stensler, an English teacher, presented a proposed 2026 educational trip to Europe to the Lower Moreland Board of School Directors on May 6. The itinerary would include London, Normandy, Paris and Berlin and is framed as an enrichment trip that connects to required English and social studies curricula.
Reese said the itinerary was built to "bring to life 2 to 3 years of required curriculum" and listed connections to course material: Shakespeare sites in London and the Globe; Imperial War Museum and D‑Day sites in Normandy; Paris sites connected to Lost Generation literature and Versailles; and Berlin sites tied to Cold War history and Holocaust remembrance. The proposed travel window targets July 20 to July 30, 2026, with approximately nine days in Europe and two travel days, departing from Philadelphia.
The quoted price from EF Tours is about $4,819 per student, which presenters said is “about as close to all inclusive as you can get” and covers flights, ground transportation, hotels, two meals per day, a dedicated tour guide, attraction admissions, and travel insurance. Reese told the board EF provides a "peace of mind" rebooking program and travel protection that covers disruptions and emergency accommodations.
Board members asked logistical and equity questions. Reese and Stensler said the quoted chaperone ratio is 6 students per chaperone; chaperones who fall within that ratio pay only for travel insurance and the cost model includes chaperone travel in the quoted student price. The teachers said they have at least 12 staff interested in serving as chaperones and would moderate enrollment to prioritize students who have not previously traveled on district trips.
On affordability and access, presenters said EF provides an individualized payments portal so family and community members can contribute; EF and the district may offer some small EF scholarships (roughly $1,000 each) and teachers said they would explore local fundraising and department awards to subsidize students in need. Reese cautioned that EF scholarship availability is limited and not a reliable funding source for a large share of costs.
Reese and Stensler said the trip would be marketed primarily to rising sophomores and juniors (current ninth‑ and tenth‑graders) and that they would limit participation to current Lower Moreland students. They also discussed the potential to coordinate with neighboring districts or a consortium to reduce per‑student pricing if two trips run in the same year.
The board discussion was informational; no formal approval or vote on the trip was recorded in the meeting transcript. Administrators indicated standard field‑trip and fundraising rules would apply if the board later approves the travel request.
