Policy Manual

F-660-AR: Service Dogs and Therapy Animals in School

References:

• Education Act
• Human Rights Act
• Alberta Service Dogs Act
  
  

St. Albert Public Schools is committed to the delivery of high quality education programs, supports and services that allow students with diverse needs to maximize their learning and achievement. The division recognizes the diverse needs of some students who may require unique accommodation(s). These accommodations, linked to the student’s learning profile, may include the use of qualified service dogs or therapy animals.

St. Albert Public Schools is committed to ensuring it operates within the legal mandate of all legislation in meeting the needs of its students. This includes the Education Act, the Human Rights Act, and specifically the Alberta Service Dogs Act, which legally recognizes all service dogs. Albertans with disabilities who use qualified service dogs now have access to all public places in the province. They have the same rights as blind and/or visually impaired persons who use a guide dog.

Definitions

1. A service dog is defined as a “dog trained as a guide for a disabled person” and having qualifications prescribed by the regulations, (Service Dog Act). For the purposes of this policy, the service dog definition would include dogs that have been trained and accredited by a recognized program such as Canine Vision Dog Guides, Special Skills Dog Guides, Hearing Ear Dog Guides, Seizure Response Dog Guides, and Autism Assistance Dog Guides, etc. Service Dogs are trained to perform tasks to ease their handlers’ disabilities and help them to attain safety and independence.
2. An Educational Assistance Animal (EAA) is defined as an animal that works with its owner/handlers as a team to improve a student’s educational, physical, social, emotional condition. An EAA can enhance the educational and motivational effectiveness for participants. An EAA is not a “certified therapy animal/dog or a certified service/animal dog” Examples of EAAs are therapy dogs, library dogs and therapy animals.
3. Therapy animals are animals that are used in an alternative or complementary type of therapy that includes the use of animals in treatment. The goal of this animal assisted intervention is to improve a patient’s social, emotional or cognitive functioning. Therapy animals are specially evaluated, trained, and registered for their volunteer work. They do not undergo the same extensive specialized and unique training required of guide dogs, hearing dogs, and therapy dogs. It is important to note that therapy animals (including therapy dogs) are not service

Purpose/Background 

St. Albert Public Schools supports the use of service dogs, EAAs and therapy animals in school for the academic, social and emotional benefit of its students. The presence of a therapy animal can decrease anxiety and provide a level of therapy that enables students to work through a variety of challenging issues. Their presence provides support to individuals other than their owner.

For example, research into the effects of service dogs and therapy animals in schools demonstrates a range of potential benefits to students including:

• increase in school attendance;
• gains in confidence;
• decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels;
• positive changes in individual students’ engagement with school;
• enhanced relationships with peers and staff members; and
• increase in a student’s ability to express feelings and ability to regulate

Procedures

1. The following minimum standards must be in effect for all service dogs, EAAs and therapy animals approved to serve in a school:
   1. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal must be clean, well groomed, and not have an offensive odor.
   2. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal does not annoy any member of the student body or school personnel by seeking attention.
   3. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal does not urinate or defecate in inappropriate locations.
   4. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal does not vocalize unnecessarily.
   5. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal shows no aggression towards people or other animals.
   6. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal does not solicit or steal food or other items from student body or school personnel.
   7. A service dog, EAAs and therapy animal does not pose a health or safety threat to any student, personnel or other persons.
2. Maximum two animals are approved for use per school with only one animal present in the building at a time.
3. Service dogs, EAAs and therapy animals are independently owned and annually must meet standards of health as prescribed by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense.
4. Albert Public Schools bears no financial responsibility for the care or feeding of the animal.
5. Approval by the school principal, superintendent or designate must be given/renewed each school year and/or whenever the animal owner wishes to use a different therapy animal. Animal handlers shall provide to the school principal, superintendent or designate, with the following documentation:
   1. Proof of certification from a certifying agency such as the, Community Therapy Dogs Society or John’s Ambulance.
   2. Proof of current vaccination.
   3. Proof of health, such as a current health certificate from a veterinarian.
   4. Visible cleanliness of dog with no sign of ticks/fleas.
   5. A visually healthy, alert and not over or under weight dog.
   6. A copy of the animal owner/handler’s minimum of $2,000,000 general liability insurance or proof of equivalent insurance through the organization the handler and therapy dog are representing.
   7. A copy of the Service Dog Team Identification Card issued by the Government of Alberta. All financial costs to obtain this card are the sole responsibility of the family. Parents/guardians can apply to servicedogs@gov.ab.ca for a service dog license. In the case of a therapy animal, provided documentation that the EAA is a certified therapy animal.
   8. A copy of the Service Dog Identification Card will be kept electronically in the cumulative file.
   9. A copy of medical certification that the service dog or therapy animal is required to assist the student to attend school.
   10. If appropriate, an annual exemption from Alberta Transportation if the service dog or therapy animal is transported by bus.
6. If approved and prior to the animal starting at the school, the principal of the school must ensure the following:
   1. A letter has been provided to staff and sent to parents/guardians in any of the classes where the therapy animal will be present to elicit information concerning allergies, phobias or cultural considerations from the staff member, student and/or parents/guardians. Should a conflict arise, priority will be given to the health and safety of the school community and the service dog, EAAs and therapy animal will be excluded from that specific area and/or entire school.
   2. The handler has provided in writing to the principal a detailed schedule outlining the location, times and details of when and how the animal will be used in the school. Animals should be restricted from food preparation areas and where possible, limited to spaces with hard-surface flooring.
   3. The principal has met with the handler to discuss the expectations of the grooming, hygiene, behaviour and role in the school. In conjunction with the handler, the principal must ensure that the personal care and physical needs of the animal are met including plans for the:
      1. safest and most environmentally sound place for the animal relieve itself;
      2. removal and disposal of animal waste; and
      3. provision of a suitable container for waste that the handler can
   4. When an administrator receives a request to have a service dog accompany a student to school, the administrator will:
      1. inform the director of student services of the request;
      2. arrange a case conference involving:
         1.  parents/guardians;
         2. teachers;
         3. classroom assistants;
         4. transportation services, if appropriate;
         5. administration from feeder schools, if appropriate; and
         6. a representative of the service dog organization, if appropriate.
      3. appropriate student services personnel to discuss the following:
         1. review the purpose and function of the service dog in relation to successful learning and/or safety for the student;
         2. notification and involvement of staff; and
         3. clarify all responsibilities of the family, school and division.
      4. Careful consideration has been given to which students will/can interact with the animal.
      5. Parent/guardian consent forms are required for situations such as when the animal will be working in a class or has scheduled visits with an individual student.
      6. Arrangements have been made to inform the school community of the presence of the animal including signage placed on each entry door of the school.
7. Development of a comprehensive transition plan for the introduction of the service dog or therapy animal which may involve the use of social stories, visits by the service dog or therapy animal to the school/classroom including:
1. inform school staff, school council representatives and parents/guardians of the arrival of a service dog or therapy animal to the school;
2. send a specific letter home to the parents/guardians of students who will be in any of the classes where the service dog or therapy animal will possibly be present in case of allergies, anxieties or other concerns;
3. may arrange an assembly for the student body involving representatives from the service dog or therapy animal organization, the parents/guardians and possibly the handler to explain the role of the service dog; and
4. explore other concerns including interference with delivery of an educational program, possible changes to in-class routines and procedures, increased demands on staff, other children and staff who are allergic to dogs or therapy animals, recognition of children with fear of dogs and other animals, cultural sensitivities to groups that will not share space with a dog or animal.
8. The service dog or therapy animal transition into the school will be finalized by the superintendent or designate based upon the recommendation of the director of student services, and the school principal and a review of the documentation pertaining to the:
   1. student’s educational needs;
   2. fulfillment of family responsibilities;
   3. fulfillment of school and division responsibilities to all stakeholders, including liability;
   4. eligibility for transportation, the Human Rights Code and the Blind Person’s Rights Act establish the right for the service dog to be allowed to accompany the student on the bus. The same duty to accommodate can be applied to a therapy animal; and
   5. An annual exemption must be obtained from Alberta Transportation.
9. Staff, students, and parents/guardians of a student with medical issues that are impacted by dogs or other animals (such as respiratory diseases) should contact the principal if they have a concern about exposure to a service dog or therapy animal. The staff member, student, and parents/guardians of the student will be asked to provide medical documentation that identifies the disability and the need for an accommodation. The principal, in consultation with the director of student services, will facilitate a process to resolve the conflict that considers the conflicting needs/accommodations of all persons involved.
10. Any student or parents/guardians of a student with a service dog (or therapy animal), staff or parents/guardians of a student who is aggrieved by the principal’s decision may appeal that decision to the superintendent or designate. That appeal must be in writing and provide detailed information regarding the basis of the appeal.
11. At the end of each year, a comprehensive transition plan will be communicated to those who need to know.
12. The principal of the school has the authority to end any arrangement pertaining to the use of animals, at any time without a stated reason or advance notice.