image: http://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/social-media1-150x150.jpg

By Kara Pendleton. In an effort to address the growing problem of cyber-bullying, an Illinois law passed last year gives schools the right to demand student social media passwords. This law applies to all students from kindergarten through college.

Effective January 1st, each school was required to send notification to students through the student handbook, as well as, provide parents with notice of the change in policy. This week, several school districts satisfied this requirement with a letter to parents.

A sample of the letter to parents is included in a “Student Handbook Model” online. The model letter notes:

School authorities may require a student or his or her parent or guardian to provide a password or other related account information in order to gain access to the student’s account or profile on a social networking website if school authorities have reasonable cause to believe that a student’s account on a social networking website contains evidence that a student has violated a school disciplinary rule or procedure.

He letter goes on to define “social networking” and ensures that email passwords are not included under the law. As expected, both parents and students had strong reactions. (Read more about the schools demanding social media passwords HERE)