New Kentucky law changes how teachers, students can communicate

KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — A new law aimed at preventing child sexual abuse will soon change the way Kentucky public school employees and volunteers are allowed to communicate with students.

Senate Bill 181, which goes into effect Friday, prohibits school staff and volunteers from using text messages or third-party apps to communicate directly with students. The goal, according to lawmakers, is to eliminate untraceable conversations that could be used to groom or exploit children.

“We’re trying to close off that access to kids so that we can reinstate those guardrails and put those protections back in place,” said Republican State Senator Lindsey Tichenor of Smithfield, who sponsored the bill.

Under the new law, teachers, coaches, and even longtime family friends must now obtain a signed consent form from a parent or guardian before communicating with a student outside of approved school platforms.

“Any communications can be accessed by parents so they know what’s being discussed in those conversations,” Tichenor explained.

Tichenor said the bill is about restoring transparency and trust and closing digital loopholes that have been exploited in the past.

“It breaks my heart to see that kids might go to a school and be victimized in that way through a relationship that was improper, and that access through social media and phones. If we can close off that access point again and bring parents into that communication, it’s going to ensure our kids are safe.”

Ashley Nation, a former Indiana student, is one of the survivors speaking out in support of the change. She said her former teacher groomed her.

“What began as seemingly harmless conversations and messages soon escalated into a situation where I felt trapped, vulnerable, and unable to seek help. Because there were no policies in place, this teacher exploited the lack of monitoring and regulation to operate without oversight, leaving me isolated and unprotected,” Nation said.

According to Kentucky Youth Advocates, more than 70% of educator misconduct cases in the state from 2015 to 2021 involved some form of electronic communication.

“This goes to show how technology is being misused by these positions of power to exploit our students,” Nation added.

Still, the law has faced pushback. Some Kentuckians argue it goes too far and violates First Amendment rights.

Tichenor acknowledges the concerns but believes the rollout will smooth out the rough edges.

“I think a lot of that will be cleared up as school starts and as the policies are put into place by the districts, and whatever little things after that, we’ll tweak when we get back into session,” she said.