No online communications with students, OSDE sends out rules

OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) – The Oklahoma State Department of Education released new rules when it comes to obeying the new digital communication emergency bill that was approved this school year.

The bill passed the Senate and stated that no educator could talk with students online anywhere without school approval and parent approval.

It is meant to curtail some unsafe efforts from teachers in the past who were caught chatting with students online illegally.

“We don’t want this to prevent our staff from engaging in these conversations and relationships,” said Courtney Scott with the Oklahoma City Public School District.

OKCPS received the training pdf from OSDE on August 8th and sent out the specifics of how educators and others can obey them.

Some platforms they approved for OKCPS are Google Workspace (including Gmail and Google Classroom), Infinite Campus, Canvas, Remind, Hudl, RankOne, GroupMe, Talking Points, ClassDojo, Clever, and Seesaw.

A major question educators have had since the training rules came out was that if educators have family members in the district they are not allowed to text or digitally discuss with that student. The exception would be if that student is their child.

“This bill is perfect to keep teachers safe. We want to make sure that there’s nothing inappropriate going on and not saying that, you know, we’re blaming teachers or anything like that,” said Democratic Representative Mickey Dollens.

Another concern from educators that KFOR spoke with was how serious the consequence of a student commenting, liking, posting, or interacting with any teacher at any time about anything online.

Rep. Dollens said that this is not meant to scare teachers at all, that it helps protect them and students. He said he understands they are fearful of retaliation because of situations recently at OSDE, he said the messaging through them has been strict.

“I get it, Superintendent Walters has gone after teaching certifications. He’s called some of the most well-respected administrators in the state clowns,” said Rep. Dollens.

OSBE approved three other platforms at their recent board meeting HUDL, Clever, and Minga Solutions.

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