Update to School Staff Communication With Students, Exceptions for Family Members

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) released updated guidelines on communication between school employees and students.

Representative Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, authored House Bill 3958, which requires school personnel to include a parent or guardian in digital or electronic communications with a student.

However, there was some confusion about how that would be handled if a student’s family member was a school employee.

The new guidance from OSDE states, “If school personnel have a familial relationship with the student, the statute does not require that the communication include a parent/guardian. The focus of the statute is not communications between family members.”

Conley said she’s relieved at the new guidance and said, “This legislation was intended to curb the number of instances where school faculty is inappropriate with a non-relative student through text messaging or other electronic communications. 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.”

The OSDE is required to develop and provide training for school personnel on the communication requirements.

Rep. Conley plans to hold an interim study this fall to see if further clarification is required.

The study is tentatively set for Oct. 1 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.