Districts targeting inappropriate teacher-student communication
As the school year begins, local districts are updating their policies on social media communication.
These policies are modeled after a state statute signed into law by Governor Christie in April requiring school districts to develop rules concerning electronic communications between school employees and students.
According to the NJ Department of Education, the purpose of the law is to help prevent improper communication between school employees and students made through emails, texting, social networking websites, and other Internet social media avenues.
At its Aug. 12 meeting, the Pompton Lakes Board of Education introduced the new social media policy.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Amoroso said the policy allows staff to communicate with students by email only through the districts email account.
"They cant email or receive email from students on their personal email address," he said.
To contact a student with a cell phone, the teacher must receive permission from the principal.
"Its got to be for a specific activity and that goes for phone calls or texting," he said.
Also, there can be no communication between students and staff from the staffs personal social media accounts.
Amoroso said the policy does permit teachers to set up classroom accounts and that parents will be able to join the accounts.
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Districts targeting inappropriate teacher-student communication