Kentucky Districts Achieve SB 181 Compliance

Challenge

Kentucky SB 181 required trackable, traceable staff-student communication
Summer timing meant limited staff availability and student access
Many districts scrambled without ParentSquare; these two were already prepared

Solution

Adopted ParentSquare in a phased rollout, building staff confidence before mandate
Onboarded teams gradually and provided training to ensure smooth adoption
Expanded use to include announcements, two-way messaging, emergency alerts, forms, secure calls, and StudentSquare for student engagement

Results

Complied with SB 181 without confusion or delays
Boosted community trust with consistent communications
Increased efficiency, reduced paperwork, and improved documentation
Strengthened engagement by connecting not just families, but students themselves

Crittenden County Schools

Type

District of 3 schools serving grades Pre-K-12

Location

Marion, KY

Students

1,300

Webster County Schools

Type

District of 6 schools
serving grades Pre-K-12

Location

Dixon, KY

Students

2,070

When Kentucky Senate Bill 181 was enacted in the summer of 2024, it required all school districts to implement a trackable, traceable communication system for staff-student interactions. For many, the timing created a crisis as summer break meant limited staff availability and minimal access to students.

Fortunately, dozens of Kentucky districts were already using ParentSquare to support school-home communication. Among them, Crittenden County and Webster County stood out for their early, phased adoption. By rolling out the platform well before SB 181 passed, they had already laid the groundwork for compliant, transparent communication, which helped them avoid the last-minute scramble that others faced. In addition, both districts introduced StudentSquare, extending the same trackable communication benefits directly to students and strengthening engagement alongside family communication.

“I didn’t know this was going to land in our laps,” said Tiffany Blazina, Director of HR and PR for Crittenden County Schools. “But I was incredibly thankful we had ParentSquare in place. We didn’t have to scramble; we just rolled up our sleeves and expanded our use.”

Crittenden County Schools had been using ParentSquare for district-wide messaging, school closings, and community updates. Teachers were already communicating with students and families through the platform. When the law passed, coaches were the first group affected over the summer, because they had summer practices and although hesitant at first because they had been using other apps previously, they quickly saw the benefits of using the platform.

Amy Hill, Public Information Officer at Webster County Schools, shared a similar experience. “We had a soft launch early on and added features gradually. That made the transition to full compliance so much easier when the bill passed.”

Both leaders praised ParentSquare’s customer support, describing it as responsive, solution-oriented, and personal. Features like Virtual Phone, Smart Sites, and digital forms for payments or doctor’s notes improved engagement, efficiency, and documentation. Integration with the district’s student information system, Infinite Campus, ensured seamless syncing of student data.

From resolving transportation challenges to supporting multilingual families, ParentSquare helped these districts enhance school-home connections, making communication more accessible and transparent for staff, students, and families. Staff in athletics and transportation also welcomed the platform, citing easier coordination and secure communications.

Advice for Districts Facing Compliance Deadlines

“Don’t wait for a mandate,” both leaders advised. “Start now. Build familiarity. Train your people. Help families get comfortable. ParentSquare didn’t just help our districts meet state requirements, it helped build stronger, safer, and more connected school communities while making life easier for staff at every level.”

“ParentSquare didn’t just help our districts meet state requirements, it helped build stronger, safer, and more connected school communities while making life easier for staff at every level.”