Last modified: January 5, 2024

Policy No. 4030 Service Animals in Schools

Download Policy No. 4030 Service Animals in Schools

The Provo City School District Board of Education acknowledges its responsibility to permit students and/or adults with disabilities to be accompanied by a “service animal” as required by federal and state laws. This policy governs the presence of service animals in the schools, on school property, including school buses and at school activities.

A “service animal” means an animal that is trained and certified for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled person’s sensory, mental or physical disability. For purposes of this policy, a “service animal includes any dog that has been individually trained to do the work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability”. The service dog must be wearing an up-to-date rabies tag on its collar.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that individuals with disabilities cannot perform themselves. Service animals are not pets. There are several kinds of service animals that assist individuals with disabilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, animals that:

assist individuals who are blind or have severe sight impairments as “seeing eye dogs” or “guide dogs;”
alert individuals with hearing impairments to sounds;
pull wheelchairs or carry and pick-up items for individuals with mobility impairments;
assist individuals with mobility impairments with balance.

The parent/guardian of a student who believes the student needs to bring a service animal to school must submit a written request to the building principal. The building principal, in consultation with the Section 504 coordinator for students or the Director of Special Education, will determine whether or not to permit the service animal in school.

An employee who needs to bring a service animal to school must submit a written request to the Executive Director of Human Resources, who will determine whether or not to permit the service animal in school.

The Board directs the superintendent to develop procedures to implement this policy and to establish regulations for service animals on school grounds and at school events.

Approved by Board of Education

September 9, 2014

Procedure

4030 P1 Service Animals in Schools