5002 - Animal Dissection

The Board of Education recognizes that animal dissection is an appropriate activity in the study of living things and instruction in the life sciences. The Board also recognizes that some students may have a moral or religious objection to animal dissection. In accordance with Section 809 of the Education Law, any student who objects to dissecting animals may opt out of dissection activities. The student must instead perform an alternative project through which he or she can learn and be assessed on material required by the course. The alternative project is subject to approval by the student's teacher. The student's objection must be substantiated in writing by the student's parent/guardian.

At the start of each school year, teachers of courses that include animal dissection shall give written notice to the students in those classes and their parents/guardians of the right to opt out of dissection and to instead perform an alternative activity.

No student shall be discriminated against based upon his or her decision to opt out of animal dissection.

Ref:

• Section 809, Education Law

Adopted by the Board of Education: June 7, 2011