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Communicating with Students

Staff Resources · District Expectations

Communicating with Students

ParentSquare, school email, and Canvas are the only authorized ways to communicate directly with a student — all school-approved, archived, and visible to district administration. Include the parent or guardian whenever possible, and if a channel isn’t approved and documented, don’t use it.

The Rule Approved Channels Do & Don’t Policy & Law Reporting

The Rule

Never communicate with an individual student outside a school-approved channel — and include the parent or guardian whenever possible. That means no texting, no social media messages, no chat apps, no gaming platforms — no exceptions for good intentions. If you need to reach a student, use a channel the district approves, archives, and can see.

Why This Protects You

Under Oklahoma law, any employee reported for inappropriate electronic communication with a student must immediately be placed on administrative leave while the report is investigated — before any finding is made. Even an unfounded report puts you through a serious process. The only sure protection is simple: never be in a one-on-one channel with a student in the first place.

Approved Channels

These are the only authorized methods for direct student communication in Noble Public Schools — all of them keep communication documented and visible to the district. Which ones you can use depends on your site: ParentSquare student accounts and Canvas are middle and high school only.

Need to Reach a Student Directly?
Curtis Inge MS · Noble High School
ParentSquare School Email Canvas

Any of these — all archived and visible to the district. Canvas messages (Inbox) and grade feedback comments both count. Include the parent or guardian whenever possible.

Daily · Hubbard · Pioneer
School Email Only

With the parent or guardian on the message — elementary students don’t have ParentSquare accounts. Use your @nobleps.com account, never personal email.

Never personal texts · social media DMs · chat & gaming apps · personal email
ParentSquare Sign-In Teacher ParentSquare Resources

Emergencies: if a genuine emergency requires contacting a student directly, notify the parent or guardian as soon as possible afterward and document the contact with your administrator.

Do & Don’t

Do

  • Use ParentSquare or Canvas (messages and grade feedback) for student communication at CIMS and NHS — and ParentSquare for family communication at every site.
  • Use your @nobleps.com email with a parent or guardian included on the message.
  • Keep every exchange school-related and professional in tone.
  • Redirect students who contact you on a personal channel back to ParentSquare — and let your administrator know.
  • Report suspected inappropriate communication immediately.

Don’t

  • Text a student from a personal phone — even about practice times or homework.
  • Message a student on social media (Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform).
  • List a current student as a “friend” or follower on your personal social networking accounts.
  • Use chat apps, gaming platforms, or any tool the district hasn’t approved.
  • Email an individual student without a parent or guardian included.
  • Assume one harmless exception is fine — the law doesn’t.

Board Policy & Oklahoma Law

These expectations are set by Noble Board of Education policy and by state law.

  • Board Policy DHAC — Staff Members and Electronic or Digital Communications — requires all electronic contact with students to go through the district’s school-approved platform with the parent or guardian included, prohibits listing current students as “friends” on social networking sites, and sets the administrative-leave and reinstatement process. References 74 O.S. § 840-8.1 and 70 O.S. § 6-401.
  • House Bill 3958 (2024) — requires school personnel to include a parent or guardian in electronic or digital communication with students, and directs districts to use school-approved platforms that include parents automatically.
  • Senate Bill 1733 & House Bill 1937 (2026) — together, these measures establish clearer standards governing communication between school employees and students, require law enforcement to be notified immediately when inappropriate electronic communication is suspected, and provide due process protection for employees when investigations determine no misconduct occurred.
Read Board Policy DHAC (PDF)

If a Report Is Made

State law sets out what happens when inappropriate electronic communication is suspected — for the person reporting and the employee involved.

  1. Report It Immediately

    Anyone who suspects inappropriate electronic communication between an employee and a student reports it to the principal or immediate supervisor right away.

  2. Law Enforcement Is Notified

    State law requires that law enforcement be notified immediately when inappropriate electronic communication is suspected. This step is not optional and not at the district’s discretion.

  3. Administrative Leave During Investigation

    The employee is placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted. Leave is a required procedural step — not a finding of wrongdoing.

  4. Due Process & Resolution

    Employees are entitled to due process protection. If the investigation finds no misconduct occurred, the employee is reinstated and the incident is noted in the personnel file. If misconduct is found, penalties can include termination of employment, and incidents are reported in compliance with district policy FFG and state law.

When in doubt, keep the parent in the loop.

If you’re unsure whether a communication channel is authorized, it isn’t — use ParentSquare. Questions about this policy or a situation you’re unsure how to handle? Contact Human Resources at HR@nobleps.com or call (405) 872-3452.