BOARD POLICY - 6163.2
The Governing Board recognizes that animals can be an effective teaching aid. In addition, instruction related to the care and treatment of animals teaches students a sense of responsibility and promotes the humane treatment of living creatures. Animals are allowed on school grounds solely for educational or service purposes.
- Animals Brought to School for Educational Purposes.
Animals may be brought to school for educational purposes, subject to rules and precautions specified in administrative regulations related to length of visit, number of animals, health, safety and sanitation. Staff shall ensure that these rules and precautions are observed so as to protect both the students and animals. Animals brought to school are the full responsibility of the owner or person in possession of the animal. The District assumes no liability for the safety of these and any other animals voluntarily brought to school.
- Service Animals at School
Pursuant to Civil Code section 54.2, individuals with disabilities, including children with disabilities, have the right to be accompanied by specially trained service animals in all public places including school. If the sole function of the animal is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or to promote emotional well-being, it shall not be considered a service animal. The District assumes no liability and shall not be responsible for the provision of a service animal. The user of the service animal is responsible for its care and conduct at all times. Service animals trained to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities may be transported in a school bus when accompanied by students with disabilities, by disabled teachers, and by the individual who trained such animals.
Before an individual may bring a service animal into a classroom, the principal or designee shall first provide written notification to all parents/guardians of students in the particular class, requesting information regarding whether their child has any known allergies, asthma, or other health-related conditions that may be affected by the service animal's presence in the classroom. If the principal or designee determines that a student in the particular classroom has a health-related condition that would be affected by the presence of the service animal, the principal or designee may deny the individual's request to bring the service animal into the classroom. If the animal poses a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others that cannot be mitigated with reasonable modifications to policies, practices, or procedures, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, the principal or designee may also deny a request.
Any service animal brought to school by an individual with a disability shall be taken home the same day.
- Presence of Animals on School Grounds
Other than for the purpose outlined in Sections 1 and 2 above (and with all the requirements met therein), no animals including pets may be brought on to school grounds by any individual at any time. This policy applies regardless of whether school is currently in session.
Policy Adopted: October 7, 2014
Legal reference:
Education Code:
233.5 Instruction in kindness to pets and human treatment of living creatures
51202 Instruction in personal and public health and safety
51540 Safe and humane treatment of animals at school
Government Code:
810-996.6 California Tort Claims Act, especially
815 Liability for injuries generally; immunity of public entity
835 Conditions of liability