A new law governing electronic communication between school staff and students does not apply to family members, according to new guidance from the Oklahoma Department of Education.The law, which took effect July 1, prohibits teachers and other school staff from texting or messaging students one-onone by requiring them to include a parent in the messages or use a school-approved platform to communicate with students. Proposed by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, the legislation is meant to crack down on predatory or inappropriate communications. The only exception is in emergencies.The law applies to teachers, coaches, administrators, bus drivers and any other employees of a public school, including charters.But some districts interpreted the law to include messages between family members, such an aunt and her niece, if the aunt worked at a school. But the Education Department, in training materials dated Aug. 23, said those situations aren’t the focus of the statute.Conley agreed. “This legislation was intended to curb the number of instances where school faculty is inappropriate with a nonrelative student through text messaging or other electronic communications,” Conley said in a press release Wednesday. “It was never intended to stop a grandmother, aunt or other family member from reaching out to a student to whom they are related to share a personal message.”Conley is planning an interim study this fall on school safety and will consider whether the communications law needs additional clarification.
