6163.3(a)

Instruction
Live Animals in the Classroom

Guidelines for Animals
All requests to have animals in the classroom or on school property must be submitted to the Principal in writing. Included in the request should be a description of the activity, type of animal, educational purpose/benefit, length of activity, and a plan for the care of the animal. The Principal, in consultation with the Directors of Science and Nursing, has the discretion to permit or deny the presence of animals.

Parents/guardians must be notified in writing prior to any activity involving animals.

Students and teachers with allergies must receive special consideration before animals are brought into a school. Prior to any exposure to animals in school, the teacher should be aware of any condition such as allergies which could be exacerbated by exposure to animals. Appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be accorded to protect the health of such individuals.

All requests to take field trips involving animals must be submitted to the Principal in writing. In determining whether to grant the request, the Principal shall be guided by the District policy on field trips and shall also take into consideration any known allergies among the students and the possible side effects of the planned exposure to animals.

All animals brought for exhibit must be restrained by the owner/handler.

Animals will be allowed to be housed in classrooms only for a specified and appropriate educational purpose for the time necessary to achieve the educational goal.

Each teacher is responsible for the proper supervision and control of students under his/her direction whenever there is an exhibit or activity involving animals in the school.

It is the responsibility of the teacher to provide a plan of care for classroom-housed animals including care on weekends and during emergency closure. No animals shall be housed at school unless the teacher involved is familiar with the appropriate care, feeding, and handling of the animals. All waste products must be cleaned from cages on a daily basis by an adult such as a teacher, assistant, volunteer, etc. Cages will not be cleaned by students and students will not have direct contact with animal waste products.

Each teacher is responsible for the proper control of animals brought to the classroom for instructional purposes, including the effective protection of students This includes keeping the animals in appropriate cages or containers for the protection of the animal and individuals.

No animals will be allowed free range in the facility.

6163.3(b)

Instruction
Live Animals in the Classroom

Guidelines for Animals (continued)
Supervised hand washing for a minimum of twenty seconds with soap and water will be conducted by students after handling animals. Hand washing will be conducted immediately after the activity has ended and prior to any further school or classroom activity. Eating/drinking will not be allowed during the animal exhibition or during activities involving animals.

The Principal and parent/guardian must be notified as soon as possible if an individual is bitten by an animal or any incident occurs, which could have an adverse effect on physical or emotional health. The supervising teacher will complete a written report describing the incident.

Animals shall not be transported on school buses.

Restrictions
No domesticated animals, including dogs, cats, primates or live stock, shall be allowed in schools unless proof of appropriate and/or current rabies vaccination is provided. Any domesticated mammal that is too young to be immunized for rabies will not be handled by students.

Raccoons, ferrets and skunks shall not be brought to school because they inflict severe bites.

No wild animal shall be allowed unless under the control of an individual trained in the care and management of the animals (i.e., zookeepers, docents, veterinarians, etc.)

Bats shall not be kept, as they are known carriers of the rabies virus.

Poisonous animals are prohibited.

Parrots, parakeets and other psittacive birds may be carriers of human respiratory diseases and shall not be kept in schools.

Red-eared turtles, also know as painted turtles, are known carriers of salmonella and shall not be kept in a classroom.

Policy adopted: January 14, 2003	HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Policy revised: May 11, 2004	Hamden, Connecticut