Administrative Procedure

AP-925 — Service Dogs

Section Nine: Students

Effective Date: May 29, 2017 Last Reviewed: May 29, 2017

Background

Grasslands School Division believes in delivering high quality education programs, supports, and services that allow students with diverse needs to maximize their learning and achievement. Some of these students may require unique accommodations and supports. These supports, linked to the student's learning profile, may include the use of a service dog. A trained service dog may assist students with physical disabilities, seizure disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. The service dog procedure requires each school to operate within the procedure's guidelines and the legal mandate of all legislation in meeting the needs of its students.

Procedures

Parents must provide a letter outlining the benefits of having the service dog attend with their child, descriptions of the service dog's activities, and the duration of the support. Parents shall complete the Request for a Certified Service Dog form (Appendix A) and attach it to the letter.
Additionally, parents wishing to use a service dog to support their child's program must:
1. Provide a letter from a physician confirming that the student's need for the use of a service dog in school is essential and directly related to the learning needs of the student.
2. Provide 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.
3. Provide up-to-date proof of vaccinations (as required by the dog's veterinarian), licensing, insurance and ensure the dog is in good health.
4. Provide for the responsibility of care of the service dog. This includes the need for "bio-breaks", disposal of waste, provision of food and water.
5. Work with the school principal to schedule training for the student's school team and bus driver(s) by the service dog organization and to educate the student body in the school, and those on the bus, on the role of the service dog and on the rules of conduct concerning the dog. This process will be ongoing as staff changes, grade changes, and other circumstances warrant it.
6. Provide the school with signage (generally provided by the service dog organization) alerting visitors/emergency service providers to the service dog's presence.
7. Indicate who will accompany and handle the service dog both inside and outside the school and what arrangements have been made with regard to alternate handlers when necessary.
8. Pay for any financial implications regarding the training, use and care of the service dog.
When a principal receives a written request for permission to have a service dog accompany a student to school, the principal will:
1. Inform the superintendent of the request, to be referred to the person assigned this responsibility.
2. Arrange a case conference involving parents, teacher(s), classroom assistants, a representative of the service dog organization, and appropriate Student Services personnel to discuss the following:

Notification and involvement of classroom staff in planning.
Review the purpose and function of the service dog in relation to successful learning and/or safety for the student.
Clarify all responsibilities of the family, school, and district.
Transportation of the student and service dog
Other concerns including: interference with delivery of an educational program, possible changes to in-class routines and procedures, increased demands on staff, other children who are allergic to dogs, recognition of children with fear of dogs, cultural sensitivities to groups that will not share space with an animal.
Development of a comprehensive transition plan for the introduction of the dog which may involve the use of social stories, visits by the dog to the school/classroom, etc.
Arrange for students and staff to receive education re appropriate reaction to the service dog. Appendix B will be helpful in this regard.

Inform school staff, school council representatives and parents of the potential arrival of a service dog to the school.
Send a specific letter home to the parents of students who will be in any of the classes, or on a school bus, where the dog will possibly be present in case of allergies, anxieties or other concerns.

Work with appropriate personnel to revise emergency and safety procedures, as required, to include the service dog.
Upon completion of the above (3.a-e), the principal will forward all relevant information to the superintendent, to be referred to the person assigned this responsibility.

Students eligible for transportation services are permitted to have the service dog accompany them on the bus.
1. The Transportation Supervisor must be provided with a copy of the Service Dog Team Identification Card.
2. The Transportation Supervisor will ensure the provision of basic service dog training procedures for the drivers, substitute drivers, and passengers have occurred prior to the student and service dog riding the bus.
3. Parents will work with the Transportation Supervisor, principal, and bus driver to develop an implementation plan, appropriate to the level of need for the student, to ensure the student can manage the service dog during the transportation process. If the student is not able to successfully manage the service dog on the bus, other plans may need to be made to have the service dog transported to school.
4. The service dog should not sit in the aisle of the bus. The dog should be in the seat compartment and/or on the floor away from the aisle on the bus to prevent the dog from becoming a projectile or tripping hazard.
A decision on the admittance of the service dog into the learning environment will be finalized by the assigned central office administrator based upon the recommendation of the school principal and Student Services personnel and a review of submitted documentation pertaining to the:

Student's educational needs,
Fulfillment of family responsibilities and
Fulfillment of school and Division responsibilities to all stakeholders, including liability.

At the end of each year, the student's learning team will review the student's program needs related to the service dog. This includes the school's input with regard to monitoring the service dog's capacity to provide the target service. Decisions regarding the appropriate use of the service dog, program planning, and training need to be considered. If the service dog is deemed essential, comprehensive transition planning for future teachers, staff, students, transportation providers and the wider community needs to occur.

A copy of all service dog request documentation will be placed in the cumulative file.

APPENDIX A — Administrative Procedure 925

PARENT/GUARDIAN REQUEST FOR A SERVICE DOG

STUDENT SURNAME	STUDENT GIVEN NAME	DATE OF BIRTH YEAR MONTH DAY
ADDRESS		HOME PH #
CITY	POSTAL CODE	NAME OF SCHOOL
GRADE	PHYSICIAN	INSURANCE CO.
PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME	CELL PH #	WORK PH #
PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME	CELL PH #	WORK PH #

REASON FOR REQUESTING A CERTIFIED SERVICE DOG

Explain how you see a service dog being of benefit to your child and what needs will be met.

Length of time the student and service dog have worked together.

I/We acknowledge and understand that it is our responsibility to:

Provide the principal with all required documentation, reports, certificates including:
1. Physician letter confirming need for a service dog.
2. Copy of the Service Dog Team Identification Card.
3. Up‐to‐date proof of vaccinations, licensing, insurance.
Assume financial responsibility for the Service Dog training, vet care, licensing, etc.
Participate in a school case conference meeting to inform the principal of all relevant information that may affect our child, other students, staff, and/or visitors to the school. d) Assist the principal to communicate relevant information to the school community.
Work cooperatively with school staff to make this accommodation a success.
Organize or cooperate with the District to arrange appropriate transportation.
Provide the required equipment and dog care items.
Provide food, water, and "bio‐breaks" to the service dog as required and remove and dispose of animal waste.
Remove the dog immediately from the school, should the service dog exhibit any unprovoked behaviors (biting, nipping, etc.) until the plan is re‐evaluated

I/we have read the above information and agree with the above conditions. Further, I/we give permission for information concerning the service dog to be shared with the school community.

_________________________ _________________________ ____________ Name of Parent/Guardian Signature Date

FOIP: This personal information is collected under Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will used only for such purposes.

Grasslands Administrative Procedure 925 ‐ Service Dogs

APPENDIX B — Administrative Procedure 925 – How to react to a service dog

What should I do if I meet a service dog team?

Do Not Distract The Dog Or Interfere With His Job — To perform their jobs, service dogs must focus on their handler and the task at hand. Service dogs are trained to very high standards and typically ignore distractions, but they are not infallible. A distracted service dog could slip up on a key part of his job and put him and his partner in danger. Some things that can distract a service dog are:

Calling to the dog
Making kissy, barking or other sounds
Petting the dog without permission

Use an encounter with a service dog team to educate children about their job. Do not let pets interfere with a service dog.

Do Not Be Offended… — If a service dog handler will not let you pet his or her dog. If a handler doesn't allow petting, it may be because it would prevent the dog from performing his or her job correctly. If a service dog handler doesn't stop to chat. Many service dog handlers are happy to answer respectful questions about their service dogs. But sometimes, they may be in a hurry, may not feel well, or have other reasons not to be able to stop and talk at that moment. Allow a service dog handler to go about his or her business just as you would anyone else.

Never Offer Food To A Service Dog — Never offer food to a service dog without first receiving permission from the handler. Even service dogs can be tempted by food. While service dogs are trained to ignore food on the ground and not to beg for food, it can still be a distraction. Feeding a service dog could not only make the dog sick, but this would also mean the dog cannot work until he is better. This could take away his handler's independence.

Treat Service Dog Handlers With Dignity

Speak to the handler, not to the dog.
Speak to the handler as you would anyone else
Do not ask personal questions about his or her disability.
Do not ask for the dog to do a demonstration.

Photos or Video — Please do not photograph or video record a service dog team without permission.

Offer to Help But Don't Insist — Service dog handlers are very appreciative of others who ask them if they need any help. But if a service dog handler says No to your offer of help, please respect his or her wishes. If you think a service dog handler may need some help, ask before acting.

Do not take the dog's leash or harness from the handler
Do not physically move or direct a handler unless he or she has given you permission to do so.

Roads with traffic can be very challenging. Many drivers and fellow pedestrians try to help, but end up making things more difficult for the team.

Do not honk your horn at a service dog team to indicate that it is safe to cross the street, as this can make it more difficult for the handler to observe other signals that traffic has stopped.
Do not announce from afar that it is safe to cross the street. If you are a fellow pedestrian, simply ask the handler if he or she would like help crossing the street.

Content Adapted from http://pleasedontpetme.com/etiquette.php