New KY law limits communication between teachers and students. Here's what to know
Senate Bill 181 aims to eliminate untraceable communication between students and school staff by prohibiting district employees and volunteers from texting students or using third-party apps to communicate with them. Additionally, teachers, coaches and volunteers will not be allowed to send messages to students' personal emails or contact them on social media.
The law follows a Courier Journal investigation into child sexual abuse by middle- and high-school coaches in the commonwealth, which found abuse can be exacerbated by inappropriate communications between coaches and students.
Though Kentucky schools have until Aug. 15 to adopt a new policy that meets requirements of the law, Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said the district is getting a head start on enforcing it.
Callahan said that until Aug. 1, district employees and volunteers should contact students using "only JCPS email or communicating through the parents." After that, the district will use a more standardized method of traceable communication.
More: What to know about new laws taking effect in Kentucky in June
Jeff Davis, a JCPS parent, said he wasn't pleased with the "abrupt" nature of the change. He said with the shift to email communication, his son is missing important updates from his coach.
"Kids don't email," Davis said. "They don't. That's not how they communicate."
Davis is also an assistant soccer coach within JCPS. He expressed concern that not all JCPS coaches have email accounts, meaning some will have no traceable way to communicate with student athletes remotely.
He added that he believes people who want to abuse children will continue to do so regardless of legislation, saying the new law is "managing the exception, not the rule."
"Let's just be honest here, the bad actors are still going to find another way," he said.
Republican state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, who sponsored SB 181, said the law is meant to inhibit unauthorized communication and protect children. In a press release, she said SB 181 "strengthens parental involvement, sets clear expectations for school-related communication, and ensures accountability."
The Jefferson County Board of Education will discuss the law at its next meeting at 6 p.m. June 24 at 3332 Newburg Road.
Reach reporter Molly Gregory at msgregory@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New KY law changes how teachers, coaches can communicate with students
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