K-12 and higher education access

What this component proposes

Protect timely service-dog access in K-12 schools, colleges and related activities.

• Avoid routine blanket preapproval periods that delay a qualified team.
• Address school buses, field trips, campus housing and extracurricular activities.
• Clarify that an aide or IEP service is not automatically a substitute for a working service dog.

Current federal law and proposed change

This component describes a proposed reform, not an enacted federal requirement. Existing protections depend on the setting and may arise under the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, veterans' benefits laws or state law. The general DOJ references below explain ADA public-access rules only; they do not establish every setting-specific rule or endorse this proposal. A component-specific, source-cited legal comparison is still required.

Primary federal references

• U.S. DOJ: ADA Service Animals FAQ (general public-access baseline)
• U.S. DOJ: ADA Service Animals Requirements

These sources explain general ADA public-access guidance, not every setting-specific rule. They do not endorse this legislative proposal. A full cross-statute legal analysis is still in development.

Implementation and legal questions

• IDEA, Section 504 and ADA requirements interact and need individualized analysis.
• Age, school safety and care responsibilities require clear implementation guidance.

Questions for working teams and stakeholders

1. Where do educational institutions delay access?
2. What school-specific protocols would be workable without creating new barriers?

Feedback is welcome from owner-trained and professionally trained teams, including people who oppose mandatory registration. Please reference Component 22 in your response.

Content status: consultation summary. Detailed source-by-source legal verification remains pending. This is not final bill text, a legal opinion, or a representation that any government agency has endorsed the initiative.