UPDATE: Missouri Law Prohibits Private Interactions Between Teachers and Students on the Internet, But State Court Finds the Law Likely Violates Right to Freedom of Speech

Missouri’s recently enacted “Amy Hestir Student Protection Act” was quickly followed by litigation brought by the Missouri State Teachers Association seeking to prevent the part of the law from going into effect which prohibits teachers from having a “nonwork-related website that allows exclusive access with a current or former student.” The court issued the injunction, finding that educators use social networking extensively and that the “statute would have a chilling effect on speech.” Moreover, the court noted that this law would even prohibit communication between teachers and their own children via a social networking website.

Meghan Covert Russell