Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you provide to us directly when using our Platform:

Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, date of birth, student/employee ID, profile photo, and institutional affiliation
Educational Content: Assignment submissions, grades, test scores, academic records, attendance data, and performance metrics
Communications: Messages sent through our platform, forum posts, comments, discussion contributions, and feedback
Uploaded Files: Documents, images, videos, and other files submitted as part of coursework or communications

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

We automatically collect certain information when you use our Platform:

Usage Data: Pages visited, features accessed, time spent on platform, navigation paths, and interaction patterns
Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and language settings
Cookies and Tracking: Session identifiers, authentication tokens, and preference settings (see our Cookie Policy below)
Log Data: Server logs including timestamps, error messages, and system performance data

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

Educational Institutions: Student enrollment data, class rosters, grades from other systems, and administrative records
Integrated Services: Information from third-party tools integrated with our platform (with your consent)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Provide and Maintain Services

Enable core functionality including assignment management, grading, communication tools, and user authentication

Communications

Send notifications about assignments, grades, deadlines, platform updates, and important announcements

Analytics and Improvement

Analyze usage patterns, understand how features are used, identify areas for improvement, and develop new features

Security and Fraud Prevention

Protect against unauthorized access, detect and prevent fraud, maintain platform security, and enforce our Terms of Service

Legal Compliance

Meet legal obligations, respond to lawful requests, comply with FERPA and COPPA requirements, and protect legal rights

Customer Support

Respond to inquiries, troubleshoot issues, provide technical assistance, and improve support quality

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data based on:

Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide our services under our agreement with your institution
Legal Obligation: Compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and other applicable laws
Legitimate Interests: Improving our services, ensuring security, and providing support
Consent: Where you have provided explicit consent for specific processing activities

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We only share data in the specific circumstances described below, and only to the extent necessary.

4.1 Within Your Educational Institution

We share information with authorized users within your institution:

Teachers: Can access information about their students, including grades and submissions
Administrators: Can access data necessary for institutional management and reporting
Parents/Guardians: Can view their linked child's academic progress and records

4.2 Service Providers

We work with third-party service providers who help us operate the platform:

Cloud Hosting: AWS/Azure for infrastructure and data storage
Email Services: SendGrid/Mailgun for transactional emails and notifications
Analytics: Privacy-focused analytics to understand platform usage
Customer Support: Help desk software for support ticket management

All service providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or necessary to:

Comply with legal process (subpoenas, court orders)
Respond to lawful government requests
Protect rights, property, or safety of our users or the public
Prevent fraud or security threats

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

Encryption

All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS 1.3. Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256.

Access Controls

Role-based access controls ensure users can only access information they're authorized to view.

Authentication

Secure password hashing (bcrypt), account lockout policies, and optional two-factor authentication.

Regular Backups

Automated daily backups with disaster recovery procedures to prevent data loss.

Monitoring

24/7 security monitoring, intrusion detection, and automated threat response.

Audits & Testing

Regular security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments.

Note: While we implement industry-standard security measures, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your data.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access

Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you

Right to Correction

Update or correct inaccurate or incomplete information

Right to Deletion

Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)

Right to Portability

Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format

Right to Object

Object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing

Communication Preferences

Manage notification settings and opt-out of non-essential communications

How to Exercise Your Rights:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@example.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Children's Privacy (COPPA & FERPA Compliance)

Our platform is designed for use by educational institutions and may be used by students under 13 years of age. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

COPPA Compliance

We obtain verifiable parental consent through educational institutions
We collect only the minimum information necessary for educational purposes
We do not use children's data for targeted advertising
Parents can review and request deletion of their child's information

FERPA Compliance

We protect education records as required by FERPA
We act as a "school official" under FERPA with legitimate educational interests
We do not disclose education records without proper authorization
Parents and eligible students can access and request amendments to records

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for different periods depending on the type of data and purpose:

Active Accounts

Data is retained while your account is active and for the duration of your enrollment/employment

Educational Records

Retained according to institutional policies and legal requirements (typically 5-7 years after graduation)

Deleted Accounts

Most data is deleted within 90 days; some information may be retained in backups for up to 1 year

Legal Requirements

Some data may be retained longer if required by law, legal proceedings, or investigations

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and improve our services:

Essential Cookies

Required for the platform to function properly. Cannot be disabled.

• Authentication and session management
• Security features and fraud prevention
• Load balancing and performance

Functional Cookies

Remember your preferences and settings.

• Language preferences
• Theme settings (dark/light mode)
• Notification preferences

Analytics Cookies

Help us understand how users interact with the platform.

• Page views and navigation paths
• Feature usage statistics
• Performance metrics

Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete cookies, or receive warnings before cookies are stored.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

Safeguards for International Transfers:

Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
Data Processing Agreements with all third-party processors
Compliance with Privacy Shield principles (where applicable)
Encryption and security measures for data in transit and at rest

By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties.

Important Notice:

When you click on third-party links or use integrated services, you leave our platform and are subject to the privacy policies and terms of those third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Notify you via email or platform notification for significant changes
Provide at least 30 days notice before material changes take effect
Obtain consent where required by law

Your continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the changes, you should discontinue use and may request account deletion.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know

Know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell

Right to Delete

Request deletion of your personal information

Right to Opt-Out

Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)

Right to Non-Discrimination

Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights

To Exercise Your CCPA Rights:

Email us at privacy@example.com or call +1 (555) 123-4567. We will verify your identity before processing your request.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Privacy Team

privacy@example.com

+1 (555) 123-4567

Mailing Address

Laravel
Privacy Department
123 Education Street
Suite 400
Your City, State 12345
United States

Response Time: We typically respond to privacy inquiries within 3-5 business days and will fulfill verified requests within 30 days as required by law.

Data Protection Officer (EU/EEA Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area and have questions about our data practices, you may contact our Data Protection Officer:

Email: dpo@example.com

Privacy at a Glance

We Protect

We Don't Sell

You Control