1. Introduction
K12 Tutor Connect ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Pocket Tutor mobile application ("App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App. We are committed to protecting the privacy of all users, especially children under the age of 13.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account Information: Parent/guardian email address and password for account creation and authentication.
- Child Profile Information: Child's first name, grade level, and selected subjects. We do not collect children's email addresses, phone numbers, or other direct contact information.
- Payment Information: Subscription and billing data processed securely through Stripe. We do not store credit card numbers on our servers.
- Tutoring Session Data: Questions, answers, uploaded images of homework, and session transcripts to provide the tutoring service.
- Feedback: Post-session ratings and feedback provided voluntarily.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, and push notification tokens for delivering notifications.
- Usage Data: Session frequency, duration, subjects studied, and mastery achievements to improve the learning experience.
3. How We Use Your Information
- Provide, maintain, and improve the tutoring service
- Personalize learning experiences based on grade level and subject
- Process subscriptions and payments
- Send important account notifications (email verification, password resets)
- Generate progress reports for parents/guardians
- Ensure safety and compliance with applicable laws
4. AI-Powered Tutoring
Pocket Tutor uses artificial intelligence (OpenAI's GPT-4o-mini) to provide interactive tutoring. Student questions and uploaded images are sent to OpenAI's API for processing. We do not use student data to train AI models. OpenAI processes data in accordance with their data processing agreement and does not retain API inputs/outputs for training purposes.
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We may share information only with:
- Service Providers: Stripe (payments), OpenAI (AI tutoring), Mailgun (email delivery), and Expo (push notifications) — each bound by data processing agreements.
- School Districts: If your account is part of a school or district subscription, designated administrators may view aggregate usage data and progress reports.
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect safety.
6. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including:
- Encrypted data transmission (TLS/SSL)
- Hashed and salted passwords (bcrypt)
- JWT-based authentication with secure token management
- PIN-protected parent features
- Regular security reviews
7. Data Retention
We retain account and session data for as long as your account is active. You can permanently delete your account and associated data from the Account screen in the Pocket Tutor app. You may also contact us at pktutor@k12tutorconnect.com for assistance. In-app deletion is immediate; assisted requests are completed within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
8. Children's Privacy (COPPA)
We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Please see our COPPA Compliance Statement for detailed information about how we protect children's privacy.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you or your child
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your data
- Opt out of non-essential communications
- Export your data in a portable format
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.