Pupils’ Rights To Refrain From The Harmful Or Destructive Use Of Animals - Miscellaneous - CA Education

Section § 32255

This section defines a few key terms related to the chapter. It clarifies that 'animal' refers to living creatures that are different from plants, mainly due to their ability to move voluntarily and their need for complex nutrients. It describes 'alternative education project' as various educational tools and methods like videos and books that offer a different way to learn what's required in a course instead of traditional methods. Lastly, 'pupil' refers to students under 18 in a course and includes their parents regarding rights and notifications.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Animal” means any living organism of the kingdom animalia, beings that typically differ from plants in capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation by a usually greater mobility with some degree of voluntary locomotor ability and by greater irritability commonly mediated through a more or less centralized nervous system, beings that are characterized by a requirement for complex organic nutrients including proteins or their constituents that are usually digested in an internal cavity before assimilation into the body proper, and beings that are distinguished from typical plants by lack of chlorophyll, by an inability to perform photosynthesis, by cells that lack cellulose walls, and by the frequent presence of discrete complex sense organs.

(b) “Alternative education project” includes, but is not limited to, the use of video recordings, models, films, books, and computers, which would provide an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question. “Alternative education project” also includes “alternative test.”

(c) “Pupil” means a person under 18 years of age who is matriculated in a course of instruction in an educational institution within the scope of Section 32255.5. For the purpose of asserting the pupil’s rights and receiving any notice or response pursuant to this chapter, “pupil” also includes the parents of the matriculated minor.

animal definition alternative education project pupil definition voluntary locomotion complex nutrients educational tools video recordings models films books computers course of study matriculated in a course educational institution parents of minors

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 88, Sec. 23. (AB 176) Effective January 1, 2010.)

Section § 32255.1

This law allows students to opt out of participating in school projects that involve dissecting or harming animals if they have moral objections. Students need to inform their teachers and get a parental note to confirm their objection. If it's possible, the teacher will work with the student to come up with a different project that requires similar time and effort. The student won't be punished or treated differently for making this choice, and they can also request alternative tests if exams involve harm to animals. Students must still pass all tests to get credit for the course.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 32255.6, any pupil with a moral objection to dissecting or otherwise harming or destroying animals, or any parts thereof, shall notify his or her teacher regarding this objection, upon notification by the school of his or her rights pursuant to Section 32255.4.

(b) If the pupil chooses to refrain from participation in an education project involving the harmful or destructive use of animals, and if the teacher believes that an adequate alternative education project is possible, the teacher may work with the pupil to develop and agree upon an alternate education project for the purpose of providing the pupil an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question.

(c) The alternative education project shall require a comparable time and effort investment by the pupil. It shall not, as a means of penalizing the pupil, be more arduous than the original education project.

(d) The pupil shall not be discriminated against based upon his or her decision to exercise his or her rights pursuant to this chapter.

(e) Pupils choosing an alternative educational project shall pass all examinations of the respective course of study in order to receive credit for that course of study. However, if tests require the harmful or destructive use of animals, a pupil may, similarly, seek alternative tests pursuant to this chapter.

(f) A pupil’s objection to participating in an educational project pursuant to this section shall be substantiated by a note from his or her parent or guardian.

moral objection dissection animal harm alternative education project student rights parental note teacher collaboration non-discrimination course credit alternative tests educational project

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 100. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Section § 32255.3

This section of the Education Code ensures that when a teacher decides if a student can do an alternative assignment or be excused from a project, the decision must be fair and reasonable, not random or based on whim. Also, students can still use any complaint or grievance processes that are already available if they disagree with the teacher's decision.

(a) A teacher’s decision in determining if a pupil may pursue an alternative educational project or be excused from the project shall not be arbitrary or capricious.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent any pupil from pursuing the grievance procedures in existing law.

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(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 65, Sec. 2.)

Section § 32255.4

Teachers who use live or dead animals or animal parts in their classes must let students know about their rights regarding this situation.

Each teacher teaching a course that utilizes live or dead animals or animal parts shall also inform the pupils of their rights pursuant to this chapter.

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(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 65, Sec. 2.)

Section § 32255.5

This law states that the rules in this chapter apply to every public school from kindergarten through 12th grade, no matter what other laws might say differently.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, this chapter applies to all levels of instruction in all public schools operating programs from kindergarten through grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

public schools kindergarten grades 1 to 12 instruction educational levels school programs K-12 education curriculum coverage universal applicability grade inclusion primary education secondary education school policies education requirements instructional applicability

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 65, Sec. 2.)

Section § 32255.6

This law says that any classes or activities teaching about domestic animals as part of agricultural education don't have to follow certain rules that apply to other programs mentioned in this chapter.

Classes and activities, conducted as part of a program in agricultural education that provide instruction on the care, management, and evaluation of domestic animals are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

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(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 65, Sec. 2.)