Legal Protections
Learn about the Laws and Policies that Protect Students Opposed to Animals Used in Science Education
Explore the laws and policies that protect students who want to pursue a humane science education in K-12 public schools, college/universities, and veterinary/medical institutions.
K-12 Student Choice Legislation
Today there are 23 States (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia) and Washington, DC, that give K12 students the right to opt out of harmful animal use in the classroom.
Student choice laws typically apply to the use of animals in public schools and allow students the right to refuse participation in classroom exercises that harm animals, typically animal dissections. These laws and policies usually require that the school notify students and/or their parents/guardians at the beginning of a school year if animal use is to be conducted.
Unfortunately, many science educators and school administrators are unaware of these laws and policies. Often it is up to a student or the student’s parent/guardian to approach a teacher and/or school about opting out of a lab that involves live or dead animal use. Young students may feel uncomfortable objecting to these inhumane activities, especially when they are the only ones speaking up. It is estimated that in a typical class, 3-5% of students will verbally object to dissection, and a higher number of students will be silently opposed to it. (Oakley, 2009)
Dissection Choice in the United States
Click on a state to see if a dissection choice law or policy exists there. If there is a law/policy, a link to a pdf is provided so that you may save or print it for use it to advocate for humane science. If there is no law/policy, please check out our model law language/sample legislation that you can use when working with local legislators.
Colleges/Universities
Institutes of higher education are able to mandate their own guidelines on issues such as dissection and vivisection in the classroom. Fortunately, many college students have voiced their objections to the harmful use of animals and have been successful in encouraging their institutions to create student choice policies.
In 1994, New York’s Sarah Lawrence College became the first college to adopt a formal student choice policy, which includes this statement: “Sarah Lawrence College does not require students with ethical objections to participate in dissection. Students who choose to refrain from such activities will be given alternatives that provide similar experiences.” The policy is printed in the college’s registration packet for all prospective and returning students.
Hofstra University also maintains an Animal Dissection Policy allowing students who are majoring or minoring in biology courses the right to opt out of laboratory exercises that include harmful animal use. In 2007, Animalearn co-authored an analysis focusing on student choice polices in the college/university arena that was published in ALTEX Journal for the 6th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences titled, “Guidelines for the development of student choice policies regarding dissection in colleges and universities: An ethnographic analysis of faculty and student concerns.” This article provides excellent guidance to help students pass similar policies at their own college/university.
Animalearn’s 2022 Humane College Student of the Year, Laura Streminsky, a student at Stony Brook University, challenged the dissection of a rat and live earthworm in her biology class. Laura’s views were dubbed “extreme” by her biology professor according to an article in The Statesman, the university newspaper. (Gugliara, 2022) Speaking out against this practice publicly enabled Laura to be able to use humane alternatives for the course. She has since formed an animal rights group at the university and continues her pursuit of a humane medical degree. Proactive students like Laura not only have the ability to make positive changes for animals in colleges and universities but also make a difference for future generations of compassionate college students.
Veterinary/Medical Schools
Medical Schools
Today, students pursuing a medical degree can do so without having to harm any animals in the process. In 2016, the last two U.S. medical schools dropped their live animal labs to train students. (Fears, 2016) Although medical schools in the United States and Canada have ended live animal labs in their medical courses, animals continue to be used in more advanced training, including surgical and emergency medicine residencies. Fortunately, students who may face a challenging situation can turn to the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) for support. In 1986, AMSA established the Principles Regarding Vivisection in Medical Education (page 191). This principle has been amended over the years to support the use of non-animal alternatives in medical education. AMSA’s guiding principle “strongly encourages the replacement of animal laboratories with non-animal alternatives in undergraduate medical education and in pre-medical curricula including undergraduate biology, anatomy, pharmacology, physiology and other life science courses.”
Veterinary Schools
Since the 1980s, veterinary students have been instrumental in speaking out against harmful animal use in veterinary education and in favor of more humane methods. Fortunately, due to the persistence and determination of many compassionate vet students, several of the 33 U.S. veterinary schools no longer require terminal surgeries in core courses, and many no longer require them in elective courses.
If you are interested in pursuing a veterinary degree, The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) offers strict guidance for animal use as shown in its Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Veterinary Education from October 2022. It notes, “Animal use should be guided by 4 Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement, and respect) and must be compliant with applicable laws and regulations.” The good news is that veterinary students can obtain an advanced degree without harming animals.