diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
index 053e358645..a9e2602307 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
@@ -277,11 +277,11 @@ def save_item(request):
         raise Http404  # TODO (vshnayder): better error
 
     if request.POST['data']:
-        data = json.loads(request.POST['data'])
+        data = request.POST['data']
         modulestore().update_item(item_location, data)
 
     if request.POST['children']:
-        children = json.loads(request.POST['children'])
+        children = request.POST['children']
         modulestore().update_children(item_location, children)
 
     # Export the course back to github
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/src/models/module.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/src/models/module.coffee
index ae24b5aefc..e2f911e9bd 100644
--- a/cms/static/coffee/src/models/module.coffee
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/src/models/module.coffee
@@ -11,9 +11,6 @@ class CMS.Models.Module extends Backbone.Model
   editUrl: ->
     "/edit_item?#{$.param(id: @get('id'))}"
 
-  updateChildren: (children) ->
-    @set(children: JSON.stringify(children))
-
   save: (args...) ->
-    @set(data: JSON.stringify(@module.save())) if @module
+    @set(data: @module.save()) if @module
     super(args...)
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/src/views/module_edit.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/src/views/module_edit.coffee
index 62460b3220..0baf68ab58 100644
--- a/cms/static/coffee/src/views/module_edit.coffee
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/src/views/module_edit.coffee
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class CMS.Views.ModuleEdit extends Backbone.View
         @$children.sortable(
           placeholder: "ui-state-highlight"
           update: (event, ui) =>
-            @model.updateChildren(@$children.find('.module-edit').map(
+            @model.set(children: @$children.find('.module-edit').map(
                 (idx, el) -> $(el).data('id')
             ).toArray())
         )