Okla. teachers, coaches now unable to digitally contact students without parent involvement

TULSA, Okla. — Teachers and coaches across Oklahoma are finding out this week that they can no longer contact a student one-on-one, through their phones or email, without also including the parents in the message.

The only exception is when messages are on a school approved platform and are related to the school and academics.

FOX23 talked with a local coach about how this will change things.

Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School nearly won its 17th boys basketball state title this past spring.

Part of the incredible season for the Hornets is regular communication between the coach and his players.

FOX23 asked Coach Eli Brown how often he texts with his players one-on-one.

“During the season it would happen a lot because you're talking back and forth about different things that may or may not happen in the game. Scout reports, film breakdown. We did use it quite a bit in season especially,” Brown said.

However, a new state law taking effect July 1 means coaches, teachers and other school personnel can no longer communicate one-on-one with a student through texting, emailing or other digital forms of communication.

Instead, a parent or guardian must be included in the message.

“The biggest hurdle I see is if the student texts me and I don't respond because I don't see the parent in it, they may take that as a slight. But that's the conversation you've got to have with the parents and the kids and say hey 'I'm not responding because this is the law now. Not because I don't want to respond to you, I can't respond to you.' That's the sentiment you really have to push until these kids have it ingrained in them that I can't respond to one-on-one communication,” Brown said.

Messages can be sent on school-approved platforms. For example, this letter from Owasso Public Schools to families shows Google Workspace.

Messages can also be sent to a group, class or team.

The reason for the change is to prevent inappropriate messaging and relationships, which Brown said he understands and agrees with, but it'll just take time for his players to get used to.

“It's kids, it goes in one ear and out the other so you have to continuously remind them until this is natural for them,” Brown said.

As natural as dribbling down the court and making their shots.

This new law would include teachers and coaches not being allowed to message one-on-one through social media as well.