Specialized canines will now be allowed in Dartmouth schools, due to a policy change that the School Committee unanimously approved at a December 12 meeting.

The new policy will allow trained, evaluated, and registered therapy dogs and handlers into schools in an effort to address students' physical, social, or emotional development goals.

The idea was first recommended at an October School Committee meeting by occupational therapist Kathleen DeCampos, who works in several Dartmouth schools. She introduced the therapy as a way to develop students’ motor and sensory skills, but also touted other benefits, including lowered stress hormones, decreased anxiety and depression, increased self-image, and improved verbal communication and emotional bonding.

The student-dog interactions and activities are meant to enhance students’ quality of life, said school officials.

Despite the committee’s approval, Superintendent Bonny Gifford said there is no clear timetable for introducing therapy dogs into the classroom. Students who could benefit from the program first will first have to be recommended to DeCampos, she said.