THIS LAW? WELL, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHO HAS BANNED THIS. AND THE LEGISLATORS HAVE BANNED ANY COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATION LIKE TEXT, EMAILS OR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT DOESN’T INCLUDE THE PARENT AND THAT INCLUDES EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. AND WHILE THEY SAY THIS COULD ADD SOME EXTRA STEPS WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICATION, THEY ALSO KNOW THAT IT’S GOING TO GIVE TEACHERS AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION. A NEW STATE LAW IN OKLAHOMA MEANS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN EDUCATOR COULD GET IN TROUBLE IF THEIR STUDENTS FOLLOW THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB. EDUCATORS DON’T INVITE. DEFINITELY DON’T INVITE STUDENTS. EVEN IF THEY’RE OUT OF YOUR GRADE LEVEL. DON’T INVITE IF THEY’RE STILL IN SCHOOL. DON’T INVITE THEM TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE. STATE SENATOR ADAM PUGH AND REPRESENTATIVE SHERRY CONNELLY WROTE THE BILL THAT THEY SAY CAN SAVE OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM INAPPROPRIATE COMMUNICATIONS. THAT LAW MAKES SURE PARENTS ARE EMAILED OR NOTIFIED SOMEHOW WHEN THEIR TEACHER AND STUDENT ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING UNRELATED TO THEIR GRADE. DISTRICTS SAY IT SHOULD ALREADY BE HAPPENING. IT’S REALLY THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE. HE’S SEEING ON EMAILS. A LOT OF THE APPS ALREADY HAVE PARENTS BUILT IN TO IT. BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR EDUCATORS. HE SAYS IF ANY TEACHERS HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR DISTRICT AND MAKE SURE THEY FOLLOW THEIR RULES. THAT IS WHERE WE’RE TELLING OUR EDUCATORS TO CHECK WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATORS AND SEE WHAT THEIR DIRECTIVES ARE. PUTNAM CITY TELLS ME THEIR TEACHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAINED ON THEIR POLICIES, AND SOON THEY’RE GOING TO BE GETTING EVEN MORE TRAINING FROM THE STAT
New law preventing teachers from directly communicating with students starts this school year
There are big changes this school year in how students can communicate with their teachers after a new law went into effect limiting one-on-one interactions.
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Updated: 6:10 PM CDT Aug 14, 2024
There are big changes this school year in how students can communicate with their teachers after a new law went into effect limiting one-on-one interactions.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Legislators banned any communication, such as texts, emails, or social media, that does not include a parent of the student. While it might add an extra step to some communication, teachers told KOCO 5 that it gives them a layer of protection.The new law means an educator could get in trouble if their students follow them on social media.>> Download the KOCO 5 App“It’s always a good rule of thumb; educators, don’t invite, definitely don’t invite students even if they’re out of your grade level don’t invite, if they’re still in school, don’t invite ‘em to your social media page,” said Katherine Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association.State Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Sherrie Conley wrote the bill that they say can save our students and educators from inappropriate communications.The law makes sure parents are emailed or notified when their teacher and student are talking about something unrelated to their grade. Districts said it should already be happening.“It’s really things that are already taking place, CCing on emails. A lot of the apps already have parents built into it,” said AJ Graffeo, with Putnam City Schools.“Building those relationships are very important for educators,” Bishop said.OEA said if any teachers have questions, they encourage educators to check in with their district and make sure they follow the rules.“That is where we’re telling our educators to check with their administrators and see what their directives are,” Bishop said.Putnam City Schools officials said teachers have been trained on the new policies and soon they are going to be getting even more training from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.Top HeadlinesTIMELINE: Oklahoma could see severe storms with damaging winds on Wednesday and ThursdayDriver dead after rollover crash near Metro Tech campus in southwest OKC, police sayOklahoma City police search for 4 suspects in connection with weekend hotel homicideBody cam video shows Edmond officers finding 2 toddlers at home alone after neighbors heard cryingMan in critical condition after being shot in car outside Oklahoma City metro hotel
OKLAHOMA CITY — There are big changes this school year in how students can communicate with their teachers after a new law went into effect limiting one-on-one interactions.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Legislators banned any communication, such as texts, emails, or social media, that does not include a parent of the student. While it might add an extra step to some communication, teachers told KOCO 5 that it gives them a layer of protection.
The new law means an educator could get in trouble if their students follow them on social media.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
“It’s always a good rule of thumb; educators, don’t invite, definitely don’t invite students even if they’re out of your grade level don’t invite, if they’re still in school, don’t invite ‘em to your social media page,” said Katherine Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association.
State Sen. Adam Pugh and Rep. Sherrie Conley wrote the bill that they say can save our students and educators from inappropriate communications.
The law makes sure parents are emailed or notified when their teacher and student are talking about something unrelated to their grade. Districts said it should already be happening.
“It’s really things that are already taking place, CCing on emails. A lot of the apps already have parents built into it,” said AJ Graffeo, with Putnam City Schools.
“Building those relationships are very important for educators,” Bishop said.
OEA said if any teachers have questions, they encourage educators to check in with their district and make sure they follow the rules.
“That is where we’re telling our educators to check with their administrators and see what their directives are,” Bishop said.
Putnam City Schools officials said teachers have been trained on the new policies and soon they are going to be getting even more training from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
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