Stevensville School District

NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS      

Service Animals

For the purposes of this policy, state law defines a service animal as a dog or any other animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a Federal law definition of a disability includes a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

The District shall permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability, according to the assessments factors as outlined in Policy 8425P, if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.

The Stevensville School District will permit the use of service animals by an individual with a disability according to state and federal regulations. The School District will honor requests for service animals in accordance with the applicable Section 504 or Special Education policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability

Examples of work or tasks performed by the service animal to accommodate an identified disability include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are 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 individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities 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.

The District may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if:

  • The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it; or
  • The animal is not housebroken

The District is not responsible for the care or supervision of the service animal.

Individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of the District’s facilities where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go.

Cross Reference:
Policy 8425P Procedure for allowance of service animals

Legal Reference:
Policy 2161 Special Education
Policy 2162 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
28CFR 35.136 Service Animals
28 CFR 35.104 Definitions
49-4-23(2), MCA Definitions

Policy History:
Adopted on: February 12, 2002
Reviewed on: December 17, 2001; September 13, 2016; June 11, 2019
Revised on: July 9, 2019