Service Dogs in Schools: What You Need to Know

Service dogs play an important and unique role in supporting students throughout the school day. Most notably, service dogs support students with disabilities, providing them with independence, mobility, and emotional support. As more students enroll in schools, it is essential administrators and teachers understand service dogs’ purpose and best practices in educational settings. This blog aims to provide educators with needed information to effectively accommodate service dogs (and their human) while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Understanding Service Dogs

According to the American with Disabilities Act, or ADA, a service animal is:

1.  A dog;
2.  Of any breed and any size;
3.  Trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability.

Service dogs are trained specifically to support individuals with disabilities and are legally permitted to accompany their handlers in public places, including schools. A service animal may be trained to help a student with medication reminders; detect a medical issue, like a seizure; or detect an allergen.

It is important to note the differences between a working service animal, who is specifically trained to “perform tasks for an individual with a disability,” and an emotional support animal, which is not protected under ADA legislation. Service animals are required to comply with local dog licensing, registration, and vaccination requirements. Do check your state’s legislation regarding service animals as they may differ from federal laws.

Emotional support animals may be an option for students with mental health or emotional needs; individuals may reach out to a health professional for more details on this type of support. Further information may be found at the US Service Animal Official Service & Support Registration site by clicking here or through the ADA’s list of requirements.

Types of Service Dogs

As mentioned, the ADA legislation recognizes any breed of dog may qualify as a service animal. As each handler or student is different, and the disability unique, the breed of dog may be selected based on the individual’s preference. The American Kennel Club recognizes the expertise of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to help individuals learn more about training and support.

Legal Protections of Service Dogs in Schools

Service dogs are protected under the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Under Title II of the ADA, a service animal is trained to perform a specific task and is not required to perform that task for anyone other than the handler. When a service animal is supporting a student, you may ask the following questions provided by the ADA:

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Additionally, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities programs that receive federal funding, which includes schools. Schools should work with students to determine if the service animal is needed for a student’s full participation in school activities.

Preparing for a Service Dog in School

The following ideas are included to help administrators and teachers prepare to support a student and their service animal:

1. Communication: Encourage discussions between school administrators, teachers, parents or guardians, and the student regarding the presence of a service dog in the school environment. Open communication about the service dog’s duties, concerns, or accommodations early are needed to make the learning environment most conducive to the student’s learning.
2. Training for Staff: Provide training sessions for school staff on interacting with service dogs, which includes appropriate behavior, handling, and respect for the dog’s role as a working animal.
3. Accessibility: Ensure the school environment is accessible to students with service dogs. This includes providing appropriate and adequate space, pathways, and facilities for the animal and student.

Supporting Students and Service Dogs

Supporting a student with a service animal is critical.  Animal allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons to refuse service animals or their access to a school building; instead, collaboration between faculty, staff, student, and animal can foster the best possible outcome when integrating a new element into a school environment.

Supporting students and educating peers can include:

• Disability awareness fosters an inclusive environment for the student and service animal to thrive. Educate students and staff about the role of the service dog and the rights of individuals with disabilities. Learn from organizations like Canines for Disabled Kids or celebrate National Service Dog Month in September to help students be more cognizant of their peers.
• Peer education encourages students to ask questions respectfully and learn about the role of the service dog. Promote empathy, understanding, inclusion, and acceptance of classmates who have service animals. Offer opportunities for students to read articles or watch videos (some students may recognize familiar characters from TV or movies they watch) about service dog’s roles.

Peer support cultivates a positive environment for all students to engage with their environment.  Understanding the legislation; preparing the school environment; establishing clear guidelines; and fostering a culture of inclusion offers an opportunity for a disabled student and their service animal to thrive. Embracing diversity and accommodating the needs of all ensures that students can succeed.

Learn more about PublicSchoolWORKS course list, which includes training on Service Dogs in Schools. Optimize your school’s training with customizable courses to meet your district or state’s individual needs.