Senate Bill 181: Why it Matters for School Sports Communication

Kentucky’s Senate Bill 181 (SB 181) officially took effect on June 27, 2025, ushering in sweeping changes to how public school districts communicate electronically with students. The law mandates that all communication by school staff, coaches, and volunteers with students must occur through district‑approved, traceable platforms—no more personal emails, texts, or social media messages without explicit parental consent. 

New Kentucky Laws Focus on Student Safety, Communication, and Online Threats

🧬 Purpose Behind the Law

SB 181 was born out of serious concerns over unauthorized and unmonitored communication being used in grooming and misconduct cases. Between 2023 and 2024, KDE reported 135 cases of educator sexual misconduct, and around 70% of them involved private digital communication channels. The law aims to restore parental oversight and reinforce accountability.

📌 Key Provisions of Senate Bill 181

• Exclusive Use of Designated Platforms - District boards must approve one or more communication systems that provide full message logging, archiving, and parent access. All staff communications with students must go through these systems only. 

• Parental Notice & Access by Day 10 - Principals are required to notify parents—in writing or electronically—within the first 10 days of school about approved platforms and how to review messages.

• Limited Exceptions - Staff may communicate outside approved systems only if the student is a family member as legally defined (e.g., parent, sibling, aunt/uncle) or if a written, individual consent form is filed at the school per student‑staff pairing. Blanket consents are not allowed. 

• Mandatory Reporting & Consequences - If someone receives a report of unauthorized communications, they must report it to leadership. Certified staff may face disciplinary action via their district or the EPSB; volunteers may be barred from future involvement. 

• Scope Includes Non‑School Activities - SB 181 also covers personal electronic interactions involving district‑enrolled students—even outside school roles like coaching youth teams or church groups—unless a valid parental consent is on file.

🌍 Impact Across Districts

Since late June 2025, many Kentucky districts—such as Jefferson County, Muhlenberg County, and Clinton County—have swiftly adopted compliance strategies. Examples of approved tools include district email, Google Workspace, Infinite Campus Messenger, Apptegy, Class Dojo, and GoGuardian. 

Some districts implemented temporary protocols, routing staff‑student messages through parents until formal tools are in place. Others moved quickly to approve platforms and roll out training. Across the board, administrators are grappling with training needs, consent‑form management, and educating communities on best practices.

🔧 What Motiv Brings to the Table

New high school sports management software, Motiv

With SB 181 creating new demands around compliance, oversight, and parent involvement, Motiv and specifically its Athletic Director Dashboard, offers a streamlined solution:

• Integrated traceable messaging that meets district compliance standards

• Built‑in parental visibility and access logs

• Customizable platform selection, aligning with district decisions

• Automated reporting and audit trails for administrators

• Team and program-wide oversight—coaches, trainers, and athletes included

Originally built by high school coaches and athletes for coaches and athletes, Motiv allows athletic programs to maintain strong communication practices without compromising SB 181’s strict requirements—ensuring safety, transparency, and accountability across every team.

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✅ In Summary

Senate Bill 181 is setting a new standard for school‑to‑student communication in Kentucky. As more districts adopt traceable systems, compliance will become the norm—not the exception. Motiv’s Athletic Director Dashboard provides the tools needed to meet this moment: secure, visible, scalable communication that helps schools uphold both the spirit and the letter of SB 181.

Want to learn more about how Motiv aligns with district-approved platforms and streamlines compliance for athletics programs? Let’s talk!

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