Parents,
Senate Bill 181 (SB 181) was passed during the 2025 legislative session, and the law is now in effect. Please see KRS 160.145. SB 181 requires each local board of education to establish a traceable communication system which provides the applications and programs with which district/school employees and volunteers in the school setting can use to communicate with students. District/school employees and volunteers shall not communicate with a student outside of the traceable communication system unless a parental consent form is on file at the student’s home school.
Area Technology Centers (ATCs) across the Commonwealth receive policy approval through the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) rather than a local board of education, consequently; the Kentucky Board of Education approved the traceable communication system to be used at all ATCs.
The Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) has implemented the following KBE approved traceable communication system for ATC employees and volunteers to use when communicating with students attending ATCs:
Additionally, under SB 181 a parent may provide consent (through a written consent form kept on file with the local school district) which allows a district/school employee or volunteer to communicate with your student outside of the traceable communication system. SB 181 provides, in part that:
(4) A parent may submit written consent to authorize a designated school district employee or volunteer who is not a family member to communicate electronically with his or her child outside of the traceable communication system. The written consent:
(a) Shall be filed in the administrative office of the student’s school prior to any electronic communication being sent from a school district employee or volunteer to a student outside of the traceable communication system;
(b) Shall designate a single, specific school district employee or volunteer per each consent form that may communicate with the student outside of the traceable communication system and shall not be transferable to any other school district employee or volunteer;
(c) May be revoked by a parent at any time;
(d) May establish terms limiting electronic communication with a student, including a term requiring that a parent be included as a direct party to all electronic communications sent to the student outside of the traceable communication system or establishing an expiration for the term of the consent. Any electronic communication with a student outside of the traceable communication system shall comply with all terms of the written consent; and
(e) Shall not authorize a school district employee to engage in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication with a student or be used as a basis of a defense for a school district employee that engages in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication.
Pursuant to SB 181 parents shall have access to and be able to review communications between their student and district/school employees and volunteers. Upon request, you may obtain access to communication between your student and district/school employees or volunteers by emailing your specific request to the principal of the ATC or the home school (dependent upon which school has authority over that employee or volunteer).
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to either your student’s home school or the ATC for more information. The ATC consent form can be picked up in the ATC front office.
We understand this may change how your student receives information and appreciate your understanding as we work to provide a safe communication system in compliance with the law.
Thank you,
Dr. Jessica McCullough
ATC Principal
Additional information:
SB 181 Traceable Communication Systems FAQ
Opinion of the Attorney General: OAG 25-09.pdf
