United States - High school
ARIZONA
State law: Parental involvement in the school [AZ. Stat: (Educ.) § 150102]
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/00102.htm
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- The governing board, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents and guardians of children enrolled in the schools within the school district, including: Procedures by which parents who object to any learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful may withdraw their children from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used.
CALIFORNIA
State law: Pupils’ Rights to Refrain From the Harmful or Destructive Use of Animals [Cal. Educ. Code § 32255-32255.6 (1988)]
Covers
Students under 18, from grades 1 to 12, in all public schools, with the exemption of students participating in ‘classes and activities, conducted as part of a program in agricultural education that provide instruction on the care, management, and evaluation of domestic animals’.
Summary
- Students have the right to morally object to dissecting, harming or killing animals.
- Teachers using live or dead animals or animal parts should inform students of their rights to ‘Refrain From the Harmful or Destructive Use of Animals’
- Teachers should work with the students to provide them with an alternate education project comparable in time and effort investment.
- Students should not be penalized for their decision.
CONNECTICUT
State law:An Act Concerning Dissection Choice. [Connecticut Public Act No. 13-273]
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/ACT/PA/2013PA-00273-R00HB-06329-PA.htm
Covers
Students enrolled in local or regional school district institutions.
Summary
- Students have the right to not participate in, or observe, the dissection of any animal, and to be provided with an alternate assignment.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
State Policy: Animal Dissection Opt Out Choice for District Students
Covers
This guidance applies to all Local Education Agencies within the District of Columbia who use animal dissection as a portion of their science instruction.
Summary
- Although schools and teachers are free to use dissection as a part of their lesson plan, students who do not wish to dissect an animal for moral or religious reasons can be provided with an alternative lesson that accomplishes the same level of mastery. Alternatives to animal dissection may include web-based dissection, plastic or clay model dissection, videos/films, books, transparencies and any other activities crafted by educators that address the same standard(s).
FLORIDA
State law: Biological experiments on living subjects [Fla. Stat: (Educ.) § 1002.20]
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Parents may request that their child be excused from performing surgery or dissection in biological science classes .
HAWAII
State policy: Hawaii Department of Education Regulation [2210.1]
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Parents/legal guardians may ask in writing that their child be excluded from a specific lesson or activity and be provided an alternate learning activity.
ILLINOIS
State law: Dissection Alternatives Act [Illinois Public Act 91-0771;105 ILCS 112/15 et sq (2000)]
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/pubact91/acts/91-0771.html
Covers
Students at a public or private elementary or secondary school in Illinois.
Summary
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A school may excuse a student enrolled in a course in which students are ordinarily expected to perform, participate in, or observe dissection who objects for any reason to performing, participating in, or observing that dissection and instead allow the student to complete an alternative project. The alternative project should be nonpunitive and should be reasonably chosen to provide the student, through means other than dissection, with knowledge similar to that expected to be gained by other students in the course who perform, participate in, or observe the dissection.
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The General Assembly also finds that the remarkable progress of the last few decades has produced significant advances in computing and the graphic and representational arts, and that these developments have resulted in the creation of many new technologies for teaching anatomy, physiology, and other medical and biological sciences. In certain circumstances these new technologies are capable of providing an educational experience superior to dissection, and they have often proven to be less expensive and more humane.
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The General Assembly also finds that the use of dissection, when inappropriate or poorly supervised, can result in the inhumane treatment and unnecessary suffering of animals. The inappropriate or careless use of dissection in schools has also in some instances traumatized students and contributed to a failure to teach proper respect for life and living creatures.
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It is the purpose of this Act to encourage schools in this State to make available and use alternatives to dissection when those alternatives are appropriate and can provide an educational experience that is equal or superior to the traditional use of dissection.
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The State Board of Education shall develop and make available guidelines that may be used by the public elementary and secondary schools within this State to give appropriate notice of which, if any, of the courses taught at the school ordinarily require or allow the student to perform, participate in, or observe dissection.
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A student may not be penalized in any way for refusing to perform, participate in, or observe dissection.
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A student may not be penalized or discriminated against in any way for refusing to perform, participate in, or observe dissection.
LOUISIANA
State resolution: House Concurrent Resolution [H.C.R. No. 153 1992]
Covers
Students in city and parish schools from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
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"Therefore, be it resolved that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop uniform alternative educational projects to be offered by city and parish school systems to students in elementary or secondary schools who choose to refrain from performing, participating in, or observing the dissection of animals, reptiles, or amphibians in a manner which would be destructive."
MAINE
State policy: 1989 State Department of Education Policy
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- School administrative units should recognize that students who show a legitimate conscientious, ethical reason not to do dissection should not be required to do so and should be offered an alternative assignment to dissection.
- School administrative units should establish a local policy which allows students to refuse to do dissection and states that alternative assignments to dissection which meet student needs while at the same time preserve the integrity of the biology program will be provided to students on request. The school should also make known that students have an alternative to dissection through such means as course description materials, posters, or school announcements, and the school should establish a procedure whereby students may request, and the school may review and approve/disapprove, an alternative.
MARYLAND
State policy: Maryland adopted a consensus of county policy through the department of education in 1997. In 2013, Baltimore City Public Schools created a dissection policy allowing students who are ethically opposed to dissection the opportunity to utilize non-animal methods to learn biology. In 2019, a bill was presented which would ensure students and teachers know that a policy is available to allow students to opt out of dissection without penalty.
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Every Maryland school district allows students to opt out of dissection and be provided with an alternative without penalty.
MASSACHUSETS
State policy: 2005 State Board of Education Policy
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- All public schools that offer dissection as a learning activity should, upon written request by a student’s parent or guardian, permit a student who chooses not to participate in dissection to demonstrate competency through an alternative method.
MICHIGAN
State policy: Michigan Board of Education policy
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- The Michigan State Board of Education recognizes that a growing number of students have moral, ethical, religious, or other objections to animal dissection and that modern non-animal teaching methods are available. To accommodate these students and create an inclusive learning environment, any K-12 student who objects to dissecting animals or animal parts should be permitted to opt out of dissection activities without fear of reprisal.
MINNESOTA
State law: Minnesota Statutes 120B.20
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Each school district shall have a procedure for a parent, guardian, or an adult student, 18 years of age or older, to review the content of the instructional materials to be provided to a minor child or to an adult student and, if the parent, guardian, or adult student objects to the content, to make reasonable arrangements with school personnel for alternative instruction. School personnel may not impose an academic or other penalty upon a student merely for arranging alternative instruction under this section.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
State policy: New Hampshire Student Choice Policy [New Hampshire Board of Education]
Summary
- Any student, for any reason, may choose to replace an activity that causes harm to animals, whether they be already dead, such in dissections, or living, such as animal testing, with an alternative activity that does not. Those instructors that teach dissection/vivisection in their classes should verbally announce the Student Choice Policy to all students on the first day of their class, and include the policy in their course syllabus. The policy is also available for review on the district website. Teachers should also inform their students that alternatives to killing, harming, or dissecting animals will be made available to them at the time of the activity in which animals will be used. Students must inform their teachers of their intention to replace an activity prior to the start of that activity. Teachers should include alternatives to the activities covered by this policy in their curriculum, and syllabi, and information on the replacement process should be provided in course syllabi and Program of Studies, or Course Catalogue.
NEW JERSEY
State law: Refusal to participate in certain school activities related to animal dissection, etc[New Jersey Statue § 18A:35-4.25]
https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-jersey/nj-laws/new_jersey_laws_18a_35-4-25
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- A public school pupil from kindergarten through grade 12 may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture or otherwise harm or destroy animals.
- A school must notify pupils and their parents or guardians at the beginning of each school year of the right to decline any form of participation in the activities enumerated in subsection
- Any pupil should be offered an alternative education project. The project must provide the pupil with the factual knowledge, information or experience required by the course of study.
- A pupil shall not be discriminated against for their decision to not participate in dissection or anything that may harm animals.
NEW MEXICO
State policy: 2005 State Board of Education Policy
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- All science classes that include dissection activities as part of the curriculum shall provide virtual dissection techniques as alternative activities for any student who is opposed to real dissections for ethical, moral, cultural or religious reasons. Alternative techniques shall approximate the experience of real dissection activities as closely and appropriately as possible. A virtual dissection technique means carrying out dissection activities using computer two-dimensional or three-dimensional simulations, videotape or videodisk simulations, take-apart anatomical models, photographs, or anatomical atlases.
NEW YORK
State law: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the dissection of animals [N.Y. Educ: Law § 809(4) (1994)]
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2009/A3467
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Any student expressing a moral or religious objection to the performance or witnessing of the dissection of an animal should be provided the opportunity to undertake an alternative project which does not involve the harm of animals.
- No school district, school principal, administrator, or teacher/supply teacher shall require or permit the performance of a lesson or experimental study on a live vertebrate animal in any lesson that involves : (i) micro-organisms which cause disease in humans or animals, (ii) ionizing radiation, (iii) known cancer producing agents, (iv) chemicals at toxic levels, (v) drugs producing pain or deformity, (iv) severe extremes of temperature, (vii) electric or other shock, (viii)( excessive noise, (ix) noxious fumes, (x) exercise to exhaustion, (xi) overcrowding, (xii) paralysis by muscle relaxants or other means, (xiii) deprivation or excess of food, water or other essential nutrients, (xiv) surgery or other invasive procedures, (xv) other extreme stimuli, or (xvi) termination of life.
- If there are any lessons involving animal harm then the student must be in grade ten, eleven, or twelve; and the students shall be under the supervision of one or more teachers certified in science.
- The board of education or trustees of a school district must develop a policy to give reasonable notice to students, students' parents or legal guardians of their rights and that such notice shall be made available upon request at the school and be distributed to parents and students at least once at the beginning of the school year.
OREGON
State law: Animal dissection [Oregon Revised Statutes §337.300]
https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/337.300
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- A kindergarten through grade 12 at public school student may refuse to dissect any vertebrate or invertebrate animal or the parent or legal guardian of the student may refuse also.
- A school district that includes dissection as part of its coursework must provide alternative materials and methods.
- A student should not be discriminated against for their choice. A school district shall notify students who have dissection as part of their coursework.
- A school district shall notify students who have dissection as part of their coursework and the parents and legal guardians of those students about the provisions of this section.
PENNSYLVANIA
State law: Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 15-1523. Pupil's right of refusal; animal dissection [24 Pa. Cons. Stat. §15-1522 (1992]
https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-24-ps-education/pa-st-sect-24-15-1523.html
Covers
Public and nonpublic students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Students may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture or otherwise harm or destroy animals or any parts thereof as part of their course of instruction.
- Schools shall notify pupils and their parents or guardian of the right to decline to participate in any education project involving the harm of animals at least three weeks before they are scheduled to participate in harming animals
- A pupil who chooses to refrain from participation or observation shall be offered an alternative education project and must not be discriminated against.
RHODE ISLAND
State law: The Rhode Island Board of Education Act [R.I. Stat. § 16-22-20 (1997)]
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE16/16-22/16-22-20.HTM
Covers
Public and nonpublic students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Rhode Island law states that parents or legal guardians of any student may refuse to allow their child to dissect or vivisect any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, or any part of a vertebrate or invertebrate animal.Students who refuse shall not be discriminated against for not participating in dissection and shall be offered an alternative method of learning the material.
TEXAS
State law: Public Education Code, Section 26.010
https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-26-010.html
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- A parent is entitled to remove the parent’s child temporarily from a class or other school activity that conflicts with the parent’s religious or moral beliefs if the parent presents or delivers to the teacher of the parent’s child a written statement authorizing the removal of the child from the class or other school activity.
UTAH
State law:Utah R277-105-5
Covers
Public school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- A parent, a legal guardian of a student, or a secondary student may request a waiver of participation in any portion of the curriculum or school activity which the requesting party believes to be an infringement upon a right of conscience or the exercise of religious freedom. However, this law was repealed in 2019. (https://casetext.com/regulation/utah-administrative-code/education/title-r277-administration/rule-r277-105-recognizing-constitutional-freedoms-in-the-schools-repealed/section-r277-105-5-requests-for-waiver-of-participation-in-school-activities-repealed)
VERMONT
State law: Student's right of refusal; animal dissection[16 V.S.A. § 912]
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/005/00254
https://law.justia.com/codes/vermont/2018/title-16/chapter-23/section-912/
Covers
Public and approved independent school students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Students have the right to be excused from participating in any lesson, exercise, or assessment requiring the student to dissect, vivisect, or otherwise harm or destroy an animal or any part of an animal, or to observe any of these activities, as part of a course of instruction.Students who refuse shall not be discriminated against for not participating in dissection and shall be offered an alternative method of learning the material.
VIRGINIA
State law: [Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-200.01 (2004)]
https://ballotpedia.org/School_choice_in_Virginia
Covers
Students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Summary
- Local school divisions shall provide students with alternatives to animal dissection techniques within the relevant public school curriculum or course.
- The school division should include notice of alternatives to animal dissection in the relevant biological sciences syllabi, student course selection guides, or local school division policies or directives.
