Dissection Alternatives - Public Act 91-771 and 90-566 - Fact Sheet

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Cart

Dissection Alternatives summarizes Illinois legislation and state guidance encouraging schools to offer appropriate non-animal dissection alternatives when they provide an educational experience equal to or better than traditional dissection. It explains the purpose of the Dissection Alternatives Act, clarifies that appropriate dissection in research remains supported, and lists example alternative teaching materials districts may consider. For districts and families, it describes student rights to refuse dissection-related activities, prohibits discrimination, and provides a sample policy and parent/guardian request letter with procedures for alternative projects and competency demonstration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

State Policy

Recommendations for School Districts

Sample Policy

Sample Parent/Guardian Form Letter

Dissection Alternatives Public Act 91-771 and 90-566 In 2000, the Illinois General Assembly recognized the importance of appropriate dissection for educational purposes. Concurrently, the Illinois General Assembly acknowledged the great strides that have been made in software and technology, which can offer the same-or in some cases better-educational experiences as an alternative to animal dissection. The General Assembly subsequently enacted the Dissection Alternatives Act. State Policy It is the purpose of the Dissection Alternatives Act to encourage schools 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. It is not in any way the intention of this Act to discourage the appropriate use of dissection in research or when it provides a valuable educational experience to students. Pursuant to Public Act 90-566, the Illinois State Board of Education has curated the following list of teaching materials for districts to consider as an alternative to dissection: • Biosphera • Easy Anatomy • Getting Nerdy • Merge EDU • The Science Bank • Victory XR • Z Space Recommendations for School Districts 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 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. Please note: Discrimination is prohibited. A student may not be penalized or discriminated against in any way for refusing to perform, participate in, or observe dissection. The Illinois State Board of Education has developed a sample policy for districts that opt to make alternative dissections available to their students. [isbe](isbe.net)[.net](isbe.net) Sample Policy In accordance with the Dissection Alternatives Act (105 ILCS 112/5), our school district has developed the following policy. Participation in hands-on science is important to learning science, and dissections are a valuable learning experience in which all students are encouraged to participate. When considering participation in dissection or the alternative project, the student has been made aware of the expectations and requirements of the colleges and graduate programs that they may be interested in attending. Upon written request of a student’s parents or guardian, our school will permit a student who objects to dissection activities to demonstrate competency through an alternative method. The chart below lists the current courses that ordinarily require or allow the student to perform, participate in, or observe dissection. Speciﬁc dissection and dissection alternative activities will be listed in the course syllabi, which are available upon request to students before enrolling in these courses. | Course | Dissection Alternatives | Dissection Alternative Activity | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | The procedure for a student to participate in an alternative activity in place of dissection is as follows: • The student will notify the science teacher of the student’s choice to participate in an alternative activity in place of participating in a dissection. • The student will submit a written request from his or her parent/guardian to the science teacher or to the school principal. • The student will be provided with an alternative activity to be determined by the teacher, who will specify in writing what is expected of the student. Alternative activities will allow students to gain the same content kn

FAQs

What is the purpose of Illinois’ Dissection Alternatives Act?

The Act encourages schools to provide alternatives to dissection when those alternatives are appropriate and offer an educational experience equal to or superior to traditional dissection. It does not discourage appropriate dissection in research or when it provides a valuable educational experience.

Can a student refuse to participate in dissection activities?

Yes. A student may be excused from performing, participating in, or observing dissection if the student objects for any reason, and the student can complete a nonpunitive alternative project.

What rights and protections apply when a student requests an alternative to dissection?

Discrimination is prohibited. The student may not be penalized or discriminated against in any way for refusing to perform, participate in, or observe dissection, and competency may be demonstrated through an alternative method upon written request from a parent or guardian.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Cart