diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 1684ba7..9756b42 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import instructor_task.api
 from instructor_task.api_helper import AlreadyRunningError
 import instructor.enrollment as enrollment
 from instructor.enrollment import enroll_email, unenroll_email
+from instructor.views.tools import _clean_field
 import instructor.access as access
 import analytics.basic
 import analytics.distributions
@@ -815,8 +816,3 @@ def _msk_from_problem_urlname(course_id, urlname):
     (org, course_name, __) = course_id.split("/")
     module_state_key = "i4x://" + org + "/" + course_name + "/" + urlname
     return module_state_key
-
-def _clean_field(field):
-    if field:
-        return field.strip()
-    return field
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
index df17d15..a6eb70a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from django_comment_common.models import (Role,
                                           FORUM_ROLE_COMMUNITY_TA)
 from django_comment_client.utils import has_forum_access
 from instructor.offline_gradecalc import student_grades, offline_grades_available
+from instructor.views.tools import _clean_field
 from instructor_task.api import (get_running_instructor_tasks,
                                  get_instructor_task_history,
                                  submit_rescore_problem_for_all_students,
@@ -1568,9 +1569,3 @@ def get_background_task_table(course_id, problem_url, student=None):
             datatable['title'] = "{course_id} > {location}".format(course_id=course_id, location=problem_url)
 
     return msg, datatable
-
-def _clean_field(field):
-    if field:
-        return field.strip()
-    return field
-
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ab9821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""
+Tools for the instructor dashboard
+"""
+def _clean_field(field):
+    if field:
+        return field.strip()
+    return field