Last modified: January 5, 2024

4030 P1 Service Animals in Schools

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Service Animal Uses

Use of a service animal by a student with a disability will be allowed in school when it is determined that the student’s disability requires such use in order to assist or accommodate access to the instructional program, school services and/or school activities. Parents/students shall work with the Special Education Department to develop accommodations. Staff shall work with Human Resources to develop accommodations.

Use of a service animal by an employee with a disability will be allowed when such use is necessary as a reasonable accommodation to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their job or to access benefits of employment provided to all employees in the same job classification. Employee accommodations are reviewed through Human Resources. The use of a service animal by an individual with a disability will not be conditioned on the payment of a fee, security deposit or surcharge.

Requirements for Service Animal Access

Before a service animal will be permitted in school, on school property or at school sponsored events, the student’s parent or the employee must provide a description of the task(s) the service animal is expected to perform in assisting the person with a disability.

The district will provide access to a person with a disability who needs a service animal provided that the tasks performed by the service animal are directly related to the disability; and the animal has been individually trained to perform a task, is housebroken; is free of disease and parasites, has a harness, leash or tether so it cannot run free and is under the control of the person with a disability.

A service animal must also be licensed and current with vaccinations. Proof of current licensing and vaccination status is to be provided upon request of the district representative. A service animal is regarded as such when having completed a certified assistive animal training program, with a valid certificate issued at the conclusion of the training. Proof of proper service animal training is to be provided upon the request of the district representative.

If any student or staff member assigned to the classroom in which an service animal is permitted suffers an allergic reaction to the animal, the person having custody and control of the animal will be required to remove the animal to a different location designated by the building principal or designee and an alternative plan will be developed with appropriate District staff. Such plan could include the reassignment of the person having custody and control of the animal to a different classroom assignment. This will also apply if an individual on school transportation suffers an allergic reaction. In this case, an alternate plan will be developed in coordination with appropriate school, District, and transportation staff including the involvement of the parents/guardian of the students.

Parents or Animal Handlers

Parents or animal handlers who will be present in school for the purpose of assisting a student with his/her service animal are required to submit to a sex offender registry and criminal background check. In addition, parents and handlers must comply with all standards of conduct that apply to school employees and volunteers.

Removal or Exclusion of a Service Animal from School or School Property

The building principal or district administrator may request an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from school, a school sponsored activity or school property if the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control the animal. Examples of the animal being out of control include, but are not limited to the following:

1. The presence of the animal poses a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others;
2. The animal significantly disrupts or interferes with the instruction program, school activities or student learning. However, annoyance on the part of the others is not an unreasonable risk to property or others to justify the removal of the service animal;
3. The presence of the animal would result in a fundamental alteration of any school program;
4. The individual in control of the animal fails to appropriately care for the animal, including feeding, exercising, taking outside for performance of excretory functions and cleaning up after the animal;
5. The animal fails to consistently perform the function(s)/service(s) to assist or accommodate the individual with the disability; 
6. The animal is ill; or
7. The animal is not housebroken.

If the district excludes a service animal, it will provide the individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the service, program or activity without having the service animal on the premises.

Service Animals at School-Sponsored Events

Individuals with disabilities may be accompanied by their service animals to events or activities open to the public that are held in schools or on school property. The building administrator may revoke or exclude the service animals for the reasons set forth in section “D” above. 

Responsibility/Liability

1. Neither the district nor its employees are responsible for the cost, care or supervision of the service animal.
2. A service animal must be under the control of its handler. A service animal must also have a harness, leash or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash or other tether, or the use of the harness, leash or other tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (e.g., voice control, signals or other effective means); and
3. The owner/handler of the service animal is responsible for any and all damage caused by the service animal at school, on school premises or at school activities.

Appeals

A parent or employee whose service animal has been excluded or removed may appeal the decision to the superintendent. If dissatisfied with the superintendent’s decision, the parent or employee may appeal to the board.

Resources

1. District Contact
   • Director of Special Education
2. Utah State Office of Education

• • 250 E 500 S
  • Salt Lake City, UT 84111
  • 801-538-7500

Guide Dogs in Training

No staff or student should presume to bring a guide dog in training on to school grounds without advance written permission from the Executive Director of Human Resources. As a general guide however, guide dogs in training are discouraged from being on school grounds.

Approved

September 9, 2014

Policy

Policy No. 4030 Service Animals in Schools