Privacy Policy

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PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: August 4, 2026 

Welcome to Judah Empowerment Academy ("we," "us," or "our"). We provide in-person K-8th grade tutoring and educational enrichment services. We are funded independently through parental tuition, private grants, and community donations. We are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our users, especially the children who attend our program. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information in strict compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable privacy laws.

1. Important Age Distinctions

To comply with COPPA regulations regarding digital tools, our program establishes strict age thresholds:

• Children Under 13 (K-6th Grade Approx.): We do not permit children under 13 to register for our services or create accounts independently. All enrollment, paperwork, and digital profile setups must be performed directly by a parent or legal guardian. 
• Children Ages 13 and Older (7th-8th Grade Approx.): Students aged 13 or older may complete their own sign-in sheets or log into their learning apps independently during sessions, but their enrollment remains entirely managed by a parent or guardian.
• Adults (Parents, Donors, and Staff): Administrative privileges, billing setups, grant reporting data, and employment profiles are strictly restricted to adults.

2. Verifiable Parental Consent & Media Opt-In

We must obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing any child under 13 to use digital learning applications under our supervision, or before taking any promotional media. Parents must complete one of the following validation methods during the physical enrollment process:

• Payment Method Verification: Setting up recurring tuition payments using a valid credit card, debit card, or authorized electronic bank transfer.
• Signed Physical Consent Form: Signing and returning a physical parental consent paper form at our tutoring facility.
• In-Person Identification: Direct, in-person verification with our administrative staff at our facility.

3. Data Collection Categories

A. Information Collected From Parents & Donors

We collect administrative, financial, and tracking details to run our independent business:

• Full name, phone number, physical address, and email address.
• Financial credentials for tuition processing (handled securely via encrypted third-party payment gateways).
• Donation and grant documentation (for tax compliance and funding reporting).
• Student enrollment histories, emergency contact information, and approved pick-up lists.

B. Information Collected From Students (K-8th)

Because we operate in person, data collection is limited to physical safety logs, academic progress, and explicitly permitted media:

• Full name, age, grade level
• Daily attendance, check-in/check-out timestamps, and physical sign-in logs.
• Academic diagnostics, reading levels, test scores, and tutor observation notes.
• Digital account credentials managed by our program to access assigned learning applications.
• Photos and Videos: Visual media taken during tutoring sessions, strictly subject to the Parental Media Release (see Section 6).

C. Information Collected From Tutors & Staff

We collect comprehensive records to ensure student safety, payroll compliance, and instructional quality:

• Full legal name, date of birth, and government-issued ID.
• Professional resumes, teaching certifications, and academic transcripts.
• Mandatory background checks, fingerprinting records, and employment eligibility forms.
• Direct deposit payroll details, tax forms (W-4 or 1099), and physical session logs.

4. Integration of Third-Party Learning Applications

To deliver high-quality enrichment, our tutors utilize specific educational software platforms. While student work is performed in person, data is processed digitally through these platforms. Each app has its own privacy practices, and we strongly encourage parents to review them:

• i-Ready (Curriculum Associates)
• Heggerty (Literacy Resources)
• Renaissance (Accelerated Reader / Star Assessments)
• Khan Academy

We create student profiles on these platforms using minimal identifying details (often using abstract user IDs or first names only) to protect student anonymity online.

5. Program-Owned Device Security

All digital learning is conducted exclusively on program-owned tablets and computers. To safeguard student data on these devices:

• Students are not permitted to log into personal email, personal social media, or unauthorized websites on program devices.
• Devices are locked down using Mobile Device Management (MDM) software to prevent unauthorized app downloads or data tracking.
• Web browsing histories and local app caches are regularly cleared by administrative staff.
• Devices operate on a private, password-protected Wi-Fi network equipped with enterprise-grade firewalls and child-safe content filters.

6. Photos, Videos, and Promotional Media

We occasionally take photos and videos of students participating in tutoring activities. This media is used for two specific purposes:

1. Grant Reporting: Providing visual evidence of program engagement to our grantors and donors (media shared with grantors is kept confidential and is not published publicly).
2. Promotional Marketing: Publishing highlights on our website, social media pages, or printed brochures to market our business.

Strict Parental Control: Parents must sign a separate Media Release Form upon enrollment. We will never publish a child's full name alongside their photo. If a parent declines the media release, the student will be placed in a designated "no-photo" zone during sessions, and staff will ensure they are excluded from all photography and video recordings.

7. How We Use and Share Collected Data

We do not sell personal information, and we do not share children's data for targeted advertising. Data is used exclusively to: 

• Provide tailored, in-person tutoring and track academic growth over time.
• Secure and verify student pick-ups and manage building safety.
• Process tuition payments, issue donor receipts, and fulfill grant reporting requirements. (Standard academic reporting uses anonymized, aggregated data only, such as "15 students in 3rd grade showed reading growth," with no names attached).

8. Parental Rights (COPPA Controls)

Parents retain absolute control over their child’s digital footprint. At any time, a verified parent can:

1. Review the specific personal information, media files, and app profiles we maintain for their child.
2. Refuse to permit further data tracking or use of learning apps for their child (we will pivot to physical textbooks/worksheets instead).
3. Revoke Media Consent: Change their mind regarding photo/video usage, at which point we will cease taking new media and remove existing public photos where feasible. 
4. Request that their child’s data and application accounts be permanently deleted.

9. Data Security and Physical Safeguards

Because we operate a physical facility, our security program covers both digital and physical realms:

• Physical Safeguards: All paper enrollment files, media release forms, emergency contact sheets, and staff background checks are kept in locked filing cabinets accessible only by the program director.
• Digital Safeguards: Tutoring tablets and computers are password-protected, encrypted,      and operate on a secure, private Wi-Fi network.

10. Contact Us

For any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or our COPPA compliance practices, please contact us at:

• Tutoring Program Name: Judah Empowerment Academy
• Physical Facility Address: 333 W Florence Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301
• Email Address: croper@judahacademy.net
• Phone Number: +1 (424) 356-3920