Privacy Policy

1. Information we handle and where it is stored

We minimize the data we collect. The table below describes every category of information the app handles today.

Your name and US state are optional, are used only to personalize your experience (for example, to show state-specific assessment prep), and never leave your browser.

2. The AI tutor and third-party processing

The optional AI tutor is the one feature that transmits what you type away from your device. When you send a question, your message and the current lesson context are sent to our server and forwarded to our AI provider, Anthropic, which generates the reply. Please do not enter full names, addresses, phone numbers, or other personal details into the tutor. Because the tutor can transmit a child's input to a third party, we require parent or guardian consent before it can be used (see Section 3).

3. Children's privacy (COPPA)

StudySpine is intended to be used by children under the direction of a parent, guardian, or school. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

• We do not require a child to provide personal information to use the core curriculum. Profile fields are optional and stay on the device.
• Before a child can use the AI tutor — the only feature that can transmit a child's input off the device to a third party — we require a parent or guardian to provide consent through an in-app consent step.
• We never sell or rent children's personal information.
• A parent or guardian may review or delete information associated with their child at any time. Because profile and progress are stored only in your browser, you can clear them instantly from Settings or by clearing the site's local storage. For anything we hold on our servers (such as submitted feedback), contact privacy@studyspine.org to request review or deletion.

4. Student records (FERPA)

When StudySpine is used by a school or district, we act as a school official with a legitimate educational interest under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). We use any education records only to provide the service to the school and under the school's direction, we do not use them for advertising, and we do not re-disclose them except as the school directs or the law permits. Today the platform does not transmit named student records to our servers; profile and progress remain on the device.

5. How we use information

• To provide and personalize the curriculum and assessments.
• To answer AI tutor questions (via our AI provider).
• To respond to feedback you choose to send us.
• To keep the service secure and prevent abuse (for example, rate limiting).

We do not use your information for third-party advertising, and we do not sell it.

6. Data retention

Data stored in your browser remains until you clear it. AI tutor conversations are not retained after a reply is generated. Feedback you submit is retained until we have resolved it or you ask us to delete it.

7. Your choices and rights

• Use the curriculum without entering any personal information.
• Edit or remove profile data at any time in Settings.
• Decline AI tutor consent; the rest of the app remains fully usable.
• Request review or deletion of anything we hold on our servers by emailing privacy@studyspine.org.

8. Changes to this policy

If we make material changes, we will update the date above and, where appropriate, provide a more prominent notice.

9. Contact

Questions or requests: privacy@studyspine.org. See also our Terms of Service.