Education organizations support changes to teacher-student social networking law
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Education organizations support changes to teacher-student social networking law

Date: September 7, 2011
By: Mariel Seidman-Gati
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri lawmakers have compromised with education groups on language in the highly debated Facebook bill.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  The Senate Education Committee voted in favor of revisions to the social networking law.

This unanimous approval came after the Missouri State Teachers Association signed on to the approach.

The MSTA previously contested the law restricting all teacher-student communication on social networking sites, like Facebook.

The bill's sponsor, St Louis County Republican Senator Jane Cunningham, says she has worked with education groups to clarify the language of the bill.

Actuality:  CUNN.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "We are absolutely giving the local district the responsibility to develop their own policy at their local level."

The bill will go before the full Senate in the 2012 legislative session.

Reporting in Jefferson City, I'm Mariel Seidman-Gati

 

Intro: 
Missouri lawmakers and education groups have now reached a compromise over the state's controversial Facebook bill.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Senate Education Committee has unanimously approved the new language in the Facebook bill.

The bill was criticized by the Missouri State Teachers Association because it restricted all teacher-student communication on social networking sites, like Facebook.

But the bill's sponsor, St Louis County Republican Senator Jane Cunningham, says it was only meant to ban private one-on-one communication.

Actuality:  CUNN2.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "I agreed that the language because of the confusion needed some clarification and I've always been happy to do that."

Cunningham says she worked with the MSTA to come up with a compromise.

The MSTA is now among seven education groups supporting the social networking bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mariel Seidman-Gati

Intro: 
Lawmakers have compromised with education groups on Facebook bill language.
RunTime:  0:46
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Missouri State Teachers Association is now supporting the bill restricting teacher-student communication on social networking sites, like Facebook.

The group previously opposed the law, but has since worked on compromise language with the Education Committee to clarify its intentions.

There is no statewide ban on social media communication, but school districts must now develop their own guidlines,

The bill's sponsor, St. Louis County Republican Senator Jane Cunningham, says since the bill's inception she's learned that many districts already have rules in place.

Actuality:  CUNN3.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "We want to provide for them to continue that local control so that they can promote healthy communication between their staff and their students."

Cunningham says this is exactly what the bill will do.

In Jefferson City, I'm Mariel Seidman-Gati