Educators Eye Ning's Move to Pay Model

The social-networking site Ning announced Tuesday that a “major education company” will help keep some services free for educators who use the site with older students and to exchange ideas with one another.

Ning , which announced a new overall pricing structure for its services, said the unnamed company would underwrite the cost for the new Ning Mini Networks for K-12 educators and those working with students 13 and older.

The company also announced Tuesday that these new Mini Networks will each cost $2.95 a month to maintain, or $19.95 a year, for those who don’t have their fees covered. Previously, Ning had provided services for similar...