POLICY NUMBER:
300.15
ADOPTED:
5.6.2025
Board Policy
- The Board of Education recognizes circumstances exist when the presence of an animal in the school setting is legally required to address student and/or employee accommodations (i.e., ADA or IDEA or Section 504), or situations when a service animal (i.e., a dog that has been trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability) accompanies an individual on a school campus event open to the public.
- The Board of Education also recognizes other situations where an animal in school may include but is not limited to: as part of the curriculum; as a therapy animal; accompanying a patron on a school field or campus, or functioning as a classroom pet.
- The Board of Education is committed to providing patrons, students and parents, and the broader community policy guidance regarding animals in schools, including when animals are not appropriate or allowed in accordance with federal and state law, and State Risk and District guidelines.
- The Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent and District Administration to develop administrative regulations consistent with this policy.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
300.15-1
APPROVED:
5.6.2025
Definitions - 300.15-1
For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:
- “Service Animal”: Any dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purpose of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
- The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
- For specific information regarding the District policy on Service Animals in School, please see Policy 300.08-Service Animals in Schools.
- “Therapy Animal”: A therapy dog (hereafter referred to as “therapy animal”) is a registered dog that has been individually trained and certified through a reputable organization to participate in a vareity of animal-assisted interventions.
- “Animal-assisted intervention”: means an intervention designed to promote improvement in an individual’s physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning through interactions with a specially trained animal.
- Examples can include a therapy dog applying gentle pressure to calm a student, being present and calm for students experiencing stress, or participating in academic activities (e.g., such as students reading aloud to the dog).
- “Therapy animal handler”: means an individual who is trained to handle a therapy animal for animal-assisted interventions.
- Therapy animals are not owned by the District; rather, they belong to an employee (or volunteer) who has received appropriate training and certification for the animal.
- Utah Code 53G-9-211 requires that if a school provides animal-assisted interventions through therapy animals, the District shall adopt a policy for proper handling of a therapy animal on school grounds. This policy complies with that requirement.
- “Emotional Support Animal”: An emotional support animal is an animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual but the animal has received no specialized training. The animal provides therapeutic benefit to the owner through companionship.
- “Animals as Part of the Curriculum”: means an animal approved by the Instructional Supports Department of the District and the School’s Principal for instruction with students.
- Poisonous, dangerous, or otherwise harmful animals shall not be kept on the school premises unless it is in conjunction with a course curriculum.
- A warning sign should be placed on the confining area of animals that are likely to carry disease; the sign shall state the disease-causing organisms the animal is likely to be infected and precautions people should take to avoid disease.
- “Classroom Pets or Other Animals”: means a small animal that resides in the classroom as a pet. (e.g., a guinea pig, lizard, fish, etc.). Classroom pets do not include a cat or dog, livestock, egg incubators, or worm/composting environments. Classroom Pet habitats should be glass, plastic, or metal, with a solid bottom (i.e., not the classroom floor) and secure hinges to prevent any escapes. Other animals may be an animal brought on campus for a theater production or extra-curricular activity. Classroom pets and other animals in schools must be approved by the principal, the Director of Instructional Supports, and School Performance Director. Teachers should send out communication and get permission from parents/guardians.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
300.15-2
APPROVED:
5.6.2025
Therapy Animals and Emotional Support Animals - 300.15-2
Therapy Animals
1. Certification or Registration Requirements
1.1. A therapy animal and its handler must obtain and maintain current certification or registration through a reputable local or national organization specializing in therapy animal training (e.g., Pet Partners, Therapy Dogs International, Intermountain Therapy Animals, Dog Elite, etc.).
1.2. The handler shall provide proof of certification or registration, as well as up-to-date vaccination records and any required liability coverage, to the School Performance and facility principal (or designee) annually or upon request.
2. Guidelines for Allowing Therapy Animals and Handlers on School Grounds
2.1. District Ownership: The District will not purchase or own therapy animals; however, employees (or authorized volunteers) may request approval to bring a trained, certified therapy animal.
2.2. Principal Approval: The school principal has final authority to approve or deny the presence of a therapy animal. In making this determination, the principal should consult with School Performance and Risk Management if necessary.
2.3. Scheduling and Supervision:
2.3.1. The handler must coordinate with the principal or designee regarding times and locations for therapy animal visits to avoid disruptions to instruction and campus activities.
2.3.1.1. If the handler is a school-based professional (e.g., a school psychologist, counselor, or teacher) who regularly uses a certified therapy animal as part of their professional duties, the principal may grant a standing approval or schedule that outlines when and where the therapy animal is generally allowed. This approval should still ensure minimal disruption and may be revised by the principal as needed.
2.3.1.2. If the handler is a volunteer or visitor, the handler must coordinate each visit in advance with the principal or designee to establish specific times and locations.
2.3.2. The therapy animal must remain under the direct control of the handler at all times. Control may be maintained through a leash, harness, or appropriate voice or signal commands consistent with the animal’s training. The principal or designee may require the use of a leash or harness if circumstances warrant (e.g., safety considerations, school events, etc.).
2.4. Hygiene and Safety: Therapy animals must be clean, well-groomed, and not pose a health or safety risk to students or staff. Handlers are responsible for cleaning up after the animal.
2.5. Removal or Exclusion: The principal may exclude or remove a therapy animal if the animal behaves inappropriately, poses a threat to health and safety, causes significant disruption, or if certification or registration requirements are not maintained.
3. Notice Requirements
3.1. The principal or designee shall provide reasonable advance notice to parents, students, faculty, and staff before a therapy animal is brought to an office, classroom, or school activity.
3.2. The notice should include:
3.2.1. The purpose of the therapy animal’s visit (e.g., reading activities, stress reduction sessions)
3.2.2. Dates, times, and locations where the therapy animal will be present, if known in advance
3.2.3. Instructions for parents or guardians to inform the principal of any animal allergies or concerns
4. Preventing Unwanted Interaction (Allergies or Discomfort)
4.1. The principal or designee shall develop a plan to ensure students or staff with allergies or fear of animals are not compelled to interact with the therapy animal.
4.2. Possible accommodations may include:
4.2.1. Adjusting the location of the therapy session or dog’s presence
4.2.2. Offering an alternative activity or location for students who prefer not to participate
4.2.3. Requesting the handler maintain additional space or distance
5. No Legal Access Rights
5.1. Therapy animals do not have the same legal rights of access as service animals under the ADA or Section 504. Their presence on campus is subject to District approval and these guidelines.
Emotional Support Animals
1. Canyons School District does not support the presence of emotional support animals.
1.1. The District does not generally support the presence of emotional support animals (ESAs) that have not received specialized training and certification.
1.2. ESAs are not recognized as service animals under the ADA and do not have the same access rights.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
300.15-3
APPROVED:
5.6.2025
Classroom Pets and Other Animal Requirements - 300.15-3
- Classroom Pets:
- Must be approved by the School’s Principal (or designee), the Director of instructional Supports, and School Performance Director.
- Teachers responsible for classroom pets must develop a basic care and maintenance plan, including feeding, cleaning, appropriate housing, and any other measures necessary for the animal’s well-being. The pet should be placed in a suitable location that provides proper ventilation, temperature control, and prevents escape.
- Students may interact with classroom pets only under direct adult supervision. The teacher shall ensure that interaction does not create a health hazard (e.g., requiring handwashing after contact, monitoring for allergies).
- Classroom pets are generally not to be sent home with students. If an exception is considered (e.g., over a school break), principal approval is required and parent/guardian consent must be obtained.
- Individual student or teacher personal pets are not permitted as classroom pets unless they fully comply with this policy, including principal approval and demonstration of an educational purpose or low-risk status.
- The teacher must check for student or staff allergies or sensitivities before introducing a classroom pet and work with the principal to provide reasonable accommodations. If a significant allergy or safety concern arises, the principal may revoke or modify approval at any time.
- Must be approved by the School’s Principal (or designee), the Director of instructional Supports, and School Performance Director.
- Other Animals
- Anyone seeking to bring an animal (other than a classroom pet, service animal, or approved therapy dog) on school campuses must request approval through Risk Management, which may include verifying insurance coverage or other conditions.
- No Dogs Allowed on School Campuses
- Except as provided for in Canyons District Policy–300.08–Service Animals in Schools and in this policy (approved therapy animals), for safety and hygienic reasons, dogs, whether leashed or not, are not allowed on school and/or district property at all times.
Exhibits
None
Forms
None
Document History
This online presentation is an electronic representation of the Canyons School District’s currently adopted policy manual. It does not reflect updating activities in progress. The official, authoritative manual is available for inspection in the office of the Superintendent located at 9361 South 300 East Sandy, UT 84070.
