On June 27, 2025, Senate Bill 181 (SB 181) will go into effect, which impacts how our school staff communicates with students. Senate Bill 181 creates a new section of KRS 160 directing each school board to designate a program or application as a traceable communication system that shall be the EXCLUSIVE means for school district employees and volunteers to communicate electronically with students.
What’s the purpose of this bill?
This law was created with student safety in mind for two main reasons: (1) to protect students from inappropriate or unsafe online communication and (2) to ensure transparency and accountability when staff members connect with students outside of the classroom.
What does this mean for students, parents and staff?
Under SB 181, ALL communication between school staff/volunteers and students must occur through approved, traceable platforms (school email or district-approved applications).
Students
Your teachers, coaches, and club advisors will now use only official district communication tools to message you. This will include things like classroom assignments, reminders, encouragement, or schedule updates. Beginning June 27, 2025, only approved forms of communication will be allowed between students and staff.
Parents/Guardians
You will notice less informal messaging from staff to students. Instead, the communication will be coming through official school channels. Communication will continue to be a priority for us as a school district with our students both inside and outside the classroom.
Staff/Volunteers
You will continue to use existing platforms or adapting to new communication systems to connect with students. This includes all digital communication between any student and any employee or volunteer, except only close family, which is defined in SB 181 as a parent, brother, sister, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, or grandparents.
What is no longer allowed?
Personal texts, personal emails, and social media messaging with students are not allowed, unless using the exclusive district approved applications or school email.
What are the approved communication platforms?
Elementary
1. ClassDojo will be the primary platform for communication
2. Infinite Campus will be the secondary platform for notifications to families and district-wide announcements
3. District Email (@ashland.kyschools.us) will also be an approved platform for all communication.
Middle & High School
1. Google Workspace for Education (Google Classroom) will be the primary platform for communication with students regarding educational topics and general classroom information.
2. Infinite Campus will be the secondary platform for notifications to families and district-wide announcements
3. Ashland App by Ballfrog will be the primary platform for all extracurricular activities, clubs and athletics.
4. District Email (@ashland.kyschools.us) will also be an approved platform for all communication.
As we make this transition, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. There will definitely be questions along the way, as well as additional guidance that we receive, but we’ll work through all of this together. We have also included a FAQ from the Kentucky School Boards Association on Understanding SB 181 and Traceable Communications found by clicking the link below. Lastly, we will communicate any updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate SB 181 together and keep our students a priority in all that we do.