FRANKFORT, KY—The Legal Services Department of the Kentucky Education Association (KEA) issued guidance to its members and all public school educators in response to SB181, a law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly requiring any and all electronic communications between school employees/volunteers and students to occur on a traceable communications system (application or program) designated by its local board of education. The bill became law Friday, June 27, 2025.
KEA has issued its guidance to offer clear recommendations to its members and public school educators who have felt uncertainty about the boundaries of the law and their clear responsibilities under the new law. KEA guidance offers a summary of the law, exceptions and non-exceptions under the law, and specific recommendations for educators of what to do and what not to do now that the law is in effect. The executive board of KEA voted to oppose SB181 during the legislative session.
KEA guidance can be found online here: https://www.kea.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SB181-Guidance-6-25-25.pdf and is attached below.
“The Kentucky Education Association (KEA) is made up of 40,000-plus certified educators, classified education support professionals, and aspiring educators across the commonwealth of Kentucky.
KEA is the largest labor union in Kentucky and is dedicated to protecting and supporting our public schools, our students, and our educators. KEA works for improved education funding, safer schools, better materials, smaller class sizes, the empowerment of educators and parents, and most importantly, the right to a quality public education for every student across Kentucky.
We work to protect and improve educator salaries, workplace benefits, job security, retirement benefits, and the respect and professionalism of every educator.
KEA was founded in 1857, representing the interests of teachers for more than 168 years.”
(David Patterson, Director of Communications – Kentucky Education Association)