This policy addresses all forms of electronic and digital communication including, but not limited to, email, texting, instant messages, direct messages, social media messages, and messages sent through software applications between any District school personnel and an individual student. 

School Personnel

School personnel include teachers, coaches, administrators, school bus drivers, support personnel, or any other persons employed full-time or part-time by the District.

Policy

Pursuant to Oklahoma law, school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with an individual student must include the student's parent or guardian in the communication, unless the communication is on a school-approved platform and the communication is related to school and academic matters. 

In the case of an emergency where other parties cannot be immediately included on digital or electronic communications, the student’s parent or guardian shall be subsequently notified of the communication as soon as possible. School personnel shall make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or applications that allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians in communication with students.

Approved Platforms

Prior to the start of the school year, the District shall compile a list of approved digital platforms for communications between District personnel and students. The list will be posted on the District website. These sanctioned platforms are the only appropriate method for District personnel to communicate directly with individual students. Outside these platforms, school personnel must affirmatively include a parent or guardian in the text message, email or other electronic communication. Failure to do so is a violation of the law and this policy.

Violations

School personnel reported to be engaging in unauthorized communications with students through digital or electronic platforms shall be placed on administrative leave while the District investigates the incident and notifies the Board of Education. If the investigation results in a finding that no misconduct occurred, the school personnel shall be reinstated, and the incident shall be noted in the employee’s personnel file. If the investigation finds misconduct occurred, the employee shall be disciplined according to the District’s policy, up to and including termination of employment. Additionally, the incident shall be reported to law enforcement.

Reporting

Students who receive communication from school personnel in violation of this policy are encouraged to report it to a teacher, site principal or other District official. School personnel who suspect, recognize, or encounter digital or electronic communications between a student or staff member that does not include a parent or guardian, or otherwise violates this policy, must report it immediately to their supervisor, the Superintendent, or other District official.

Approved by the Board of Education August 2024