As of Nov. 15, teachers and other public school employees are required to document all communication with students via personal electronic devices.
The new state law (HB 570, Act 214), passed in June, requires Louisiana districts to enforce that all student/school employee communication be through means provided by the school system and that it is education-related. Electronic communication consists of e-mail, text messages, online social networks, cell phone, land line phone and even fax transmissions. To document communication, school employees must fill out an electronic form that states the reason of interaction, which is sent to the school administration.
Principal Alfred Johnson said, “I don’t think the law is intended to prevent appropriate communication related to school work, but intended to protect students from innapropriate contact with teachers.” School employees must also document when a student contacts them through non-school means. “I was told I can’t call kids from my home or cell phones and I can’t e-mail students for personal reasons,” Chemistry teacher Louise Levin said.
The law has affected her communication with students. “In the past I tutored my AP students on Saturday mornings,” Levin said. “If there was a problem with timing, I could call them on their cell phones, but now I won’t be able to.”
Some students feel these new procedures are not needed to regulate communication. Junior Angel Holly said, “I don’t want teachers to document what I am asking them. It is between the teacher and the student.”
The law also requires that the districts specify disciplinary action to be taken in a case in which communication is not documented. According to Louisiana legislation, the law is intended to improve student safety by holding educators responsible for student/teacher communication. Johnson said, “As long as they are communicating on appropriate topics, there shouldn’t be a problem, and King has never had one.”
At this time, Jefferson Parish does not have a policy in place stipulating consequences for teachers who fail to document communication. The School Board met on Dec. 9 to discuss such policies.