Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 4202/5029/7272
SERVICE ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS The Avery County Board of Education will make reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities in accordance with policy 1730/4022/7231, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities, and the requirement of state and federal law. An individual with a disability may be accompanied by his or her service animal on school property subject to the requirements of this policy. If necessary, the superintendent may establish administrative regulations for the use of service animals on school property.
A. DEFINITION OF “SERVICE ANIMAL”
A “service animal” for purposes of this policy is any dog that has been
individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual
with a disability, including, but not limited to, a physical, sensory, psychiatric,
intellectual or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service
animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability or necessary to
mitigate a disability. Federal regulation 28 C.F.R. 35.104 provides examples of
types of work or tasks that would qualify. Service animals do not include any
other species of animal, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, except
that a miniature horse will be permitted for use as a service animal if reasonable
modifications can be made after assessing the specific factors listed in 28 C.F.R.
35.136(i). Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, well-
being, comfort, companionship, or therapeutic benefits, or to act as a crime
deterrent, are not service animals for the purposes of this policy.
B. USE OF A SERVICE ANIMAL ON SCHOOL PROPERTY BY STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
1. Introduction of a Service Animal
School administrators shall facilitate the introduction of an eligible service
animal into the school environment. To promote a successful integration
of the service animal into the educational program and to minimize
unnecessary disruption, an employee or student with a disability who
intends to bring a service animal to school during the school day is
encouraged to follow these guidelines.
a. The employee, student, or student’s parent should notify the
superintendent and the principal of the applicable school in writing
at least 10 work days prior to the date proposed to bring the service
animal onto school property.
b. The employee, student, or student’s parent should work with
school personnel to create a plan addressing the presence of the
service animal during the school day. A plan to integrate a service
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7321R Page 1 of 4 animal into the school environment should include the following:
1) appropriate training for school personnel and students
regarding interaction with the service animal;
2) arrangements for meeting the service animal’s basic needs
during the school day;
3) any necessary modifications to the educational program so
that the employee or student with a disability may be
accompanied by the service animal; and
4) when necessary, provisions for the presence of a handler
other than the employee or student with the disability to
control or care for the service animal.
c. It is recommended, but not required, that the service animal wear
identification to provide adequate notice to students, school
personnel, and school visitors that the dog is a service animal.
d. The service animal should be free of parasites and otherwise in
good health.
2. Presence of a Service Animal on School Property
An employee or student with a disability accompanied by a service animal
must meet the following requirements for a service animal to be present on
school property.
a. A student or employee who elects to be accompanied by a service
animal will be expected to care for and supervise the animal. If a
student is not capable of providing adequate care and supervision,
the parent will be responsible for providing such care and
supervision.
b. If a student requires assistance from a parent or handler to control
and care for the service animal while on school property, that
individual must submit to a background screening, which may
include a criminal history check in accordance with state law and
any procedures established by the superintendent.
c. The service animal must be on a leash or other mechanical restraint
at all times. If mechanical restraint is not feasible due to a
student’s disability, the animal must be under other sufficient
means of control.
d. The service animal must be housebroken, under the control of its
handler, and have received all necessary vaccinations as required
by state law.
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7321R Page 2 of 4 The principal or designee shall notify all security personnel of the existence and possible locations of any service animals on school property.
C. USE OF A SERVICE ANIMAL ON SCHOOL PROPERTY BY SCHOOL VISITORS
A school visitor who is an individual with a disability may be accompanied by a
service animal in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws and
regulations and with policy 5020, Visitors to the Schools. A service animal that is
accompanying a school visitor may be properly excluded from school property for
a reason(s) set forth in section E of this policy.
D. LIABILITY
The board may hold the owner or handler of a service animal liable for any
property damage caused by the animal to the same extent required by other board
policy or administrative rules that impose liability for property damage. In
addition, either the owner or handler, or both, may be liable for personal injury
caused by the animal or related to the presence of the animal on school property.
E. EXCLUSION OF A SERVICE ANIMAL FROM SCHOOL PROPERTY
School personnel shall not ask an individual with a disability about the nature or
extent of his or her disability or for proof of a service animal’s training as a
condition of allowing the animal onto school property. However, when not
readily apparent to school personnel, a principal or designee may inquire as to
whether the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the
animal has been trained to perform. Such inquiries may be made to confirm that
the dog is a service animal and is rightfully present on school property.
A principal or designee may exclude a service animal from school property for
the following reasons:
1. The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that
cannot be eliminated by reasonable modifications.
2. The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take
effective action to control it.
3. The animal is not housebroken.
4. The presence or behavior of the animal fundamentally alters the service,
program, or activity of the school system.
If a principal or designee excludes a dog or service animal from school property,
the principal or designee must document the reasons for the exclusion and notify
the superintendent. The superintendent or designee will make a determination on
whether a service animal will be allowed to return to the school and, if reasonably
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7321R Page 3 of 4 possible, notify the individual with the disability in writing of the decision within five work days of the initial exclusion.
If the superintendent determines that an animal does not meet the definition of a
service animal or that a service animal should be excluded for one or more of the
reasons described in this section, the student’s Section 504 or IEP Team shall
meet to consider and document whether the animal’s presence is necessary for the
child to receive an appropriate education or to have equal access to the
educational program and, if not, whether the child needs other aids and services or
accommodations.
If a service animal is excluded, an individual with a disability will be provided the
opportunity to participate in educational services, programs or activities as
required by law without having the service animal on the premises.
F. APPEAL OF AN EXCLUSION OF A SERVICE ANIMAL FROM SCHOOL PROPERTY
The superintendent’s decision regarding exclusion of a service animal from
school property in accordance with this policy may be appealed consistent with
policy 1720/4015/7225, Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying Complaint
Procedure, and any other procedure established by the superintendent under
policy 1730/4022/7231, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities.
Legal References: Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., 28 C.F.R. pt. 35; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 705(20), 794, 34 C.F.R. pt. 104; G.S. 130A-185, 168 art. 1, 168A-3 through -7
Cross References: Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying Compliant Procedure (policy 1720/4015/7225), Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities (policy 1730/4022/7231), School Volunteers (policy 5015), Visitors to the Schools (policy 5020) Adopted: 1/17/11 Revised: 12/19/17
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7321R Page 4 of 4