IMGA Service Animals in Schools
SERVICE ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS
The Regional School Unit 1 Board of Directors recognizes that havingservice animals may be used to provide assistance to some persons with disabilities. This policy governs the presence of service animals in the classroomschools, canon offerschool valuableproperty, studentincluding learningschool experiencesbuses, butand at school activities.
DEFINITION
As applied to schools, federal and Maine laws define a “service animal” as a dog that is alsoindividually concernedtrained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with thea healthdisability, andincluding safetya physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Other species of students,animals, staffwhether andwild visitorsor anddomestic, thetrained humaneor treatmentuntrained, ofare not service animals when they are brought to school.
Forfor the purpose of this policydefinition. “animals” includes
The presencework ofor livetasks animals in the classroom must be related to the objectives of the instructional program. Permission must be obtained from the building principal before any animal is brought into the schoolperformed by a teacher, student or any other person.
The following guidelines shall apply to the presence of animals in the RSU 1’s schools:
A. The presence of anservice animal in a classroom must be directly related to the instructionalindividual’s program.disability. Staff Examples of such work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting an individual who wishis totally or partially blind with navigation and other tasks, alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting an individual to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or a telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability and helping a person with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.
The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
USE OF SERVICE ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS
Use of a service animal by a qualified student with a disability will be allowed in school when it is determined that the student’s disability requires such use in order to have animalsequal visitaccess to the classroominstructional program, school services and/or school activities.
Use of a service animal by a qualified employee with a disability will be allowed when such use is necessary to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their job or to enjoy benefits of employment comparable to those of similarly situated non-disabled employees.
The parent/guardian of a student who believes the student needs to bring a service animal to school, or an employee who wishes to bring a service animal to school, must submit a written request to the principal;building theprincipal. request shouldThe include the instructional purpose and activity, the type of animal, the length of time the animal is expected to be present, and a plan for the care of the animal. Thebuilding principal, atin his/her discretion, may approve or deny the request.
B. Students or parents who wish to bring animals to school for educational purposes must consultconsultation with the teacherSection who,504 inCoordinator turn,or willDirector requestof permissionSpecial fromEducation, as appropriate, and the building principal. All other persons who wish to bring animals to school must obtain written permission, in advance, from the building principal.
C. The Superintendent will bedetermine responsiblewhether foror developing proceduresnot to informpermit parentsthe thatservice animalsanimal mayin beschool.
Parents or residinganimal inhandlers classrooms during the school year. Parents are expected to notify the school if their child has an allergy or other health condition thatwho will be affected by the presence of animals in the classroom.
The building principal and staff will respond appropriately when health considerations are brought to their attention. An animal will not be housed in a classroom if a student in that classroom has a documented allergy to the animal.
D. Animals may not be transportedpresent in school vehicles.
E. No domestic mammals/pets (including dogs, cats, ferrets, and primates) or livestock will be allowed in school unless current proof of rabies and/or other vaccination is provided. Smaller mammals such as mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and rabbits do not need to be vaccinated against rabies. Bats, as they may be carriers of rabies, are not allowed in the schools.
Parrots, parakeets and other psittacine birds (birds that may carry psittacosis, a severe infectious human respiratory disease) shall not be brought to school unless they have been tested and certified as psittacosis-free.
Red-eared turtles (also known as painted turtles) are carriers of salmonella and shall not be kept in the classroom without written documentation from the supplier that they are salmonella-free.
F. No wild, exotic, aggressive or poisonous animals will be allowed in school unless under the control of an individual trained in the care and management of the animal and properly licensed by state or federal agencies as appropriate (e.g., zookeepers, veterinarians, biologists, Maine Fish and Wildlife personnel). Students will not be permitted to handle such animals.
G. No animals will be allowed free range of the classroom or the school. All animals brought to school must be restrained by the owner/handler. The teacher is responsible for the proper supervision and control of students whenever there is an exhibit or activity involving animals in school.
H. Animals kept in classrooms must be housed in suitable cages or containers and fed and otherwise cared for appropriately. Only the teacher or students designated or supervised by the teacher may be allowed to handle these animals. Animal waste must be removed on an as-needed basis and in a sanitary manner. Only staff members or adult volunteers will be allowed to clean cages or containers or remove animal waste.
I. If a student is bitten/injured by an animal on school premises, the building principal, school nurse and parent/guardian must be notified as soon as possible. If a staff member or visitor is bitten/injured, the building principal must be notified. The building principal must notify appropriate public health authorities and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control of each incident. An accident/injury report must also be completed and forwarded to the Superintendent.
J. If a stray or wild animal appears on school grounds, students shall not be allowed in the area until the animal has left the premises or is removed by the local animal control officer, game warden or other appropriate official.
K. No animal may be used as part of a scientific experiment or for any other purpose in which the normal health of the animal is interfered with or which causes pain or distress. No person may practice vivisection or exhibit a vivisected animal in the schools. Dissection of dead animals shall be confined to the classroom and to the presence of students engaged in the study of dissection and shall not be for the purpose of exhibition.
L. The Board recognizes that service animals may be used to assist persons with disabilities. This policy does not apply to the presence of service animals that have been or are being specifically trained for the purpose of assisting a personstudent with their service animal will be required to submit to a disability.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.
The school unit may impose additional conditions on the presence of a service animal, depending upon the circumstances.
The building principal may remove or exclude a service animal from the school or school property if the presence of the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or the student, employee or handler is unable to fully control the animal; or the animal fails to consistently perform the function(s)/service(s) for which it has been trained and brought to school.
A parent or employee whose service animal has been removed or excluded may appeal the decision to the Superintendent. If dissatisfied with the Superintendent’s decision, the parent or employee may appeal to the Board.
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 use of a service animal may not be conditioned on the payment of a fee or security deposit, but the individual is liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such an animal.
The building principal may revoke or exclude the service animal only if the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, the use of the animal would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others, or would substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of the event or activity by others.
Legal Reference: Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C.USC § 12101 et seq.)
MRSA36 CFR § 3971104, 22302
5 MRSA §§ 801-8254553, 4592
Me. Human Rights Commission Rule Chapter 7
Cross Reference:References EBBBAC –- AccidentNondiscrimination, ReportsEqual IMGAOpportunity, –and ServiceAffirmative Action
IMG - Animals in Schools
Adopted: January 28, 2013
Revised: April 27, 2026