Social Media Policies For Employees in the Educational Setting

As a new school year begins, the use of social media is more prevalent in the classroom than ever. Many schools have adopted the use of the Internet for administrative tasks, such as registering for classes, assigning and completing homework assignments, and for communications between teachers and students. And while many school districts have adopted social media policies relating to the regulation of its students' actions, many have not implemented similar policies with respect to its employees, including teachers and other staff. Some recent case law regarding the termination of school employees involving their use of social media are instructive regarding the importance of implementing clearly defined policies for this issue. Indeed, the policies should apply to the administration, faculty and staff of the school districts, along with strict policies for students.