Apptegy's AI-Powered Moderation and Compliance Features Prepare Districts Ahead of Evolving Regulatory Landscape

As new regulations reshape teacher-family communications, school districts are turning to solutions that ensure compliance and strengthen educational connections. Legislation in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Ohio—impacting thousands of schools and millions of students—has driven district leaders to adopt communication platforms offering proactive safety measures, transparent parent access, and comprehensive data protection.

The legislative trend signals a fundamental shift in how states regulate digital communication in educational settings. Oklahoma's SB 3958 requires parental inclusion in most electronic communications with students, Kentucky's SB 181 mandates "traceable communication systems" for all digital interactions, and Ohio's SB 29 establishes strict student data privacy requirements with significant compliance deadlines.

Breaking New Ground with Proactive AI Moderation

Unlike reactive safety solutions that respond to problems after they occur, Apptegy's platform introduces the K-12 education sector's first K-12 communications platform to offer AI-powered moderation tools to thousands of school districts, proactively preventing harmful content from reaching recipients. The technology reviews, highlights, and removes concerning messages before they're seen—a critical capability as districts face increased scrutiny over digital safety.

“We’re witnessing a shift in how states approach school communication oversight,” said Charlie Lang, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Apptegy.

“Traditional, manual safety solutions only allow districts to respond after harm has occurred. And because they rely on human reporting, many harmful messages can be missed entirely. Apptegy’s new messaging platform changes that by using AI-powered moderation to proactively identify and filter harmful or inappropriate content before it ever reaches students, families, or staff. This shift not only enhances safety, it also empowers educators and administrators to stay focused on what matters most: teaching and supporting their students.”

Strategic Compliance Considerations

Each new law presents specific requirements that savvy district leaders are prioritizing :

• Oklahoma's SB 3958: Requires school personnel to include parents in electronic communications with students, mandating platforms that "allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians." Districts must provide comprehensive training on these requirements.
• Kentucky's SB 181: Effective for the 2025-2026 school year, requires all electronic communications between school employees and students to occur through designated "traceable communication systems" that track all interactions and provide access for parents to review.
• Ohio's SB 29: Establishes strict student data privacy requirements, requiring districts to provide annual notices to families about technology providers and implement specific security safeguards by August 2025.

The convergence of these regulations reflects educational leaders' commitment to transparency and proactive student safety in digital environments.

The Apptegy Advantage: Built for Compliance and Beyond

Apptegy's Rooms platform addresses these new requirements through features specifically designed for the K-12 environment:

• Proactive AI Moderation: Automatically reviews all messages, images, and attachments before delivery, preventing inappropriate content from reaching recipients
• Complete Message Archiving: Maintains comprehensive records of all communications for transparency and compliance
• Automatic Parent Inclusion: Streamlines compliance with parental notification requirements
• Data Privacy Certifications: Maintains iKeepSafe, FERPA, COPPA, and California Student Privacy certifications, and SOC2 Type 2 compliance
• Unified District Branding: Centralizes all communications under district branding rather than vendor platforms

Strategic Implementation and Success Stories

Visionary districts across affected states are proactively implementing Apptegy's solutions to exceed new requirements.

"The expansion of the Rooms feature for our educators, students, and families facilitated a seamless implementation of HB 3958. Apptegy’s platform and moderation tools have enabled us to adhere to new legislation while allowing us to reclaim valuable time to concentrate on enhancing student achievements,” stated Lynn Cordes, Executive Director of Communications for Lawton Public Schools, an Oklahoma public school district with 14,000 students.

"Collaborating with Apptegy has been crucial for the communication efforts within our district. The Apptegy team demonstrates a high degree of responsiveness to our needs and recognizes the significance of effective district-wide communication tools."

As communication oversight trends expand to additional states, with several legislatures considering similar measures, early-adopting districts are positioning themselves as leaders in both compliance and community engagement. These strategic implementations not only meet current regulatory requirements but also build enhanced trust with families seeking greater transparency.

About Apptegy

Apptegy is the leading provider of K-12 communication and engagement solutions, serving over 5,000 school districts nationwide. The company's platform combines mass communication tools, two-way messaging capabilities, and comprehensive safety features in a unified, district-branded environment. Apptegy's mission centers on helping schools build stronger connections with their communities while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

The company's Rooms platform specifically addresses the evolving landscape of teacher-to-student communication, offering advanced AI moderation, comprehensive archiving, and seamless parent transparency features that exceed current state requirements while preparing districts for future regulatory developments.

For more information about Apptegy's compliance solutions and to schedule a consultation, visit apptegy.com or call (501) 222-3447.

Note to Editors: Apptegy executives and district leaders are available for interviews regarding the impact of new state communication laws and the technology solutions addressing these requirements. High-resolution images and additional resources are available upon request.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250902518281/en/

"Apptegy’s platform and moderation tools have enabled us to adhere to new legislation while allowing us to reclaim valuable time to concentrate on enhancing student achievements,” Lynn Cordes, Executive Director of Communications for Lawton Public Schools