5015.1: Service Animals

I.ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýDefinition of a Service Animal.
Ìý

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýA.ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýA service animal must be a dog or, in specific circumstances, a miniature horse, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a student with a disability and is required for the student with a disability. No other species of animal, whether wild or domestic, will be permitted in District facilities as a service animal.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýB.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýService animals do not include pets, farm animals, wild or exotic animals, or any animals whoseÌýfunction is to provide crime deterrent effects, emotional support, comfort, companionship,Ìýtherapeutic benefits, or to promote emotional well-being.

II.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýWork or Tasks of a Service Animal.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýA.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýThe work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the student’sÌýdisability and required for the student with a disability.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýB.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýExamples of work or tasks that a service animal may perform to meet this definition include:

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýNavigation: assisting individuals, who are blind or have low vision with navigation andÌýother tasks,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýAlerting: alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people orÌýsounds,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýProtection: providing non-violent protection or rescue work,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý4.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýPulling: pulling a wheelchair,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý5.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýSeizure: assisting an individual during a seizure,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý6.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýAllergens: alerting individuals to the presence of allergens,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý7.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýRetrieving: retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý8.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýPhysical support: providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý9.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýInterrupting behaviors: helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýC.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýWork or tasks that are excluded from meeting the definition are:

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýGuard dogs: providing crime deterrent effects via the animal’s presence, and

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýCompanion dogs: the provision of emotional support, comfort, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or emotional well-being.

III.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýPresence of Service Animals.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýA.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall be permitted to be accompanied by his/her service animalÌýin all areas where students are allowed to go.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýB.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal may not be required to pay an extra fee for the service animal toÌýattend events for which a fee is charged for students.

IV.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýRemoval of a Service Animal.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýA.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA District administrator may direct a student with a service animal, the service animal’s handler, or the student’s parents to remove a service animal from a District facility, a school building, a classroom, or from a school function, if any one of the following circumstances occur:

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe service animal is out of control and the service animal’s handler does not takeÌýeffective action to control it,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe service animal is not housebroken,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe service animal’s presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the service,Ìýprogram, or activity, or

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý4.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe presence of the service animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýB.ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý ÌýTo determine whether a direct threat exists, an individualized assessment is to be made toÌýascertain:

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe nature, duration, and severity of the risk,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýThe probability that the potential injury will actually occur, and

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýWhether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures or the provision of auxiliary aids or services will mitigate the risk.

V.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýControl of the Service Animal.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýThe service animal must be under the control of its handler. In most cases the service animalÌýmust have a harness, leash, or other tether.Ìý

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýThe service animal does not need to be on a harness, leash, or other tether, however, if the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether. A harness, leash, or other tether is also not required if it would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýIf either of the harness, leash, or other tether exceptions apply, the service animal must be under the handler’s control via voice control, signals, or other effective means.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý4.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýThe District will provide reasonable accommodations of adult assistance to a student with aÌýservice animal when, due to the student’s young age or significant disabilities, it is reasonably necessary to assist the student in his/her use or control of the service animal, and such accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of the educational service, program, or activity.

VI.ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýResponsibility for Care and Supervision.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýThe District is not responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal, includingÌýwalking the service animal or responding to the service animal’s need to relieve itself.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall provide documentation of ownership, veterinarianÌývaccinations and health status, proper pet licensure, and liability insurance coverage.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall be solely responsible to maintain and keep current such vaccinations, licensure, and liability insurance, and neither the school nor the District shall be liable in any manner for any costs or expenses associated with meeting these requirements.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý4.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall maintain the service animal so that it will always be clean,Ìýwell groomed, and not have an offensive odor.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý5.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall be solely responsible for any and all costs and expenses associated with the ownership, training, boarding, veterinarian and health care, licensing, insurance coverage, and care and maintenance of the service animal, and neither the school nor the District shall be liable in any manner therefor.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý6.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýA student with a service animal shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilitiesÌýor to any person by the service animal.

VII.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýMiniature Horses.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýA.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýRequests to permit a miniature horse to accompany a student with a disability on DistrictÌýpremises shall be considered in accordance with 28 C.F.R. § 35.136(i).
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VIII.ÌýÌýÌýÌýInquiries.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýA.ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýWhen addressing a service animal matter, District staff shall not ask about the nature or extent ofÌýthe student’s disability.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýB.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýDistrict staff may not ask questions about the service animal’s qualifications as a service animal when it is readily apparent that the animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for a student with a disability. Examples include where the service animal is observed guiding a student who isÌýblind or has low vision, pulling the student’s wheelchair, or providing assistance with stability or balance to a student with an observable mobility disability.

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýC.ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýWhen it is not readily apparent that the animal qualifies as a service animal, District staff may ask:

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý1.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýIf the animal’s presence is required because of a disability, and

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý2.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýWhat work or task the animal has been individually trained to perform.


ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý3.ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýStaff may not require documentation, such as proof that the service animal has beenÌýcertified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.

Date of Adoption
February 6, 2012
Date of Revision
July 6, 2015
Reaffirmed
June 1, 2020