At BrightMinds Tutoring, we collect information solely to deliver personalized academic support, improve student outcomes, and maintain secure educational records. We do not collect data unnecessarily, and all collection practices comply with FERPA, COPPA, GDPR, and applicable state privacy laws.
2.1 Personal Identification Information
We collect basic identifying information to create and manage accounts, facilitate communication, and ensure age-appropriate service delivery.
- Full legal name (student and parent/guardian if applicable)
- Email address and phone number
- Mail address for correspondence or physical materials
- Date of birth (to verify age and determine COPPA compliance)
- Emergency contact information
Consent & Minors
For students under 13, we require verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information, in full compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Parents retain full access and control over their child's account data.
2.2 Academic & Progress Data
To provide effective tutoring, we collect and store academic information that helps our tutors tailor lessons and track improvement over time.
| Data Type | Collection Method | Requirement | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current grade level & school enrollment | User input during registration | Required | Curriculum alignment & tutor matching |
| Subject areas of focus | User selection & tutor assessment | Required | Session planning & resource allocation |
| Past test scores & grades | User upload or manual entry | Optional | Baseline assessment & progress tracking |
| Session notes & tutor feedback | Automated platform logging | Required | Personalized learning adjustments |
| Accommodations/IEP/504 plans | Secure document upload | Optional | Learning disability support & legal compliance |
2.3 Technical & Usage Data
Like most web services, we automatically collect certain technical information to ensure platform functionality, security, and performance optimization.
- IP address and approximate geographic location
- Device type, operating system, and browser version
- Session duration, page views, and clickstream data
- Video/audio connection quality metrics (for virtual sessions)
- Cookie identifiers and analytics tokens (see our Cookies Policy for details)
This data is used exclusively for service delivery, fraud prevention, and improving user experience. It is anonymized where possible and never sold to third parties.
2.4 Communication & Support Records
When you contact us for billing questions, academic support, or account assistance, we retain records of those interactions to provide continuity and resolve issues efficiently.
- Email correspondence and support ticket logs
- Live chat transcripts (session length: 2 years)
- Phone call notes and callback requests
- Parental feedback surveys and satisfaction ratings
2.5 Payment & Billing Information
BrightMinds Tutoring does not store full credit card numbers or sensitive financial data on our servers. All payment processing is handled by PCI-DSS compliant third-party providers (Stripe & PayPal).
We only retain:
- Transaction IDs and timestamps
- Billing email and last 4 digits of payment method
- Subscription plan type and renewal dates
- Invoice history for tax and accounting purposes
Data Minimization Principle
We adhere to strict data minimization practices. Any field marked as optional can be left blank without affecting core tutoring services. You may request deletion or export of your data at any time through your account settings or by contacting our Data Privacy Officer.