OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, today commented on new training released by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) that gives schools guidance regarding communications between school employees and students who are relatives that attend schools in the districts where they work.

Conley said earlier this month she'd been contacted by numerous people after House Bill 3958, which she authored, took effect in July. The legislation requires school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with an individual student to include the student's parents or guardians. She was told districts were informing employees that were family members of students that they must communicate through a school-approved platform and include parents or guardians even in personal messages.

The new OSDE guidance reads, "If school personnel have a familial relationship with the student, the statute does not require that the communication include a parent/guardian. The focus of the statute is not communications between family members."

Conley said she's relieved.

"This legislation was intended to curb the number of instances where school faculty is inappropriate with a non-relative student through text messaging or other electronic communications," Conley said. "It was never intended to stop a grandmother, aunt or other family member from reaching out to a student to whom they are related to share a personal message."

Under the new law, the State Department of Education was required to develop and provide training for school personnel on the communication requirements of the act. Conley said she's pleased with the department's interpretation of legislative intent and the guidance that is now available to school districts throughout the state.

Conley said she'll explore whether clarification in the law still is needed through an interim study she'll hold this fall. The study was requested to examine additional ways to keep students safe at school. The study is tentatively set for 1 to 2:30 p.m. Oct 1.