Running Start — Privacy Policy

Effective date: [DATE] Version: 1.0

Draft for attorney review. This policy is written for the actual data flows in the Running Start platform, but I am not a lawyer. Because this service collects information about minors, have a licensed attorney review it before launch — particularly for COPPA (children under 13), California's CCPA/CPRA, and student-privacy considerations.

1. Scope

This policy explains what Running Start collects, why, and what choices you have. It applies to runningstartmentor.com and our mentorship services.

2. A note about minors — read this first

Running Start serves high school students, most of whom are under 18.

• Accounts are created by a parent or legal guardian, not by the student.
• We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. If we learn we have collected such information without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it. Contact us at the address in Section 11 if you believe this has happened.
• We deliberately collect as little information about the student as possible — typically only a first name, grade level, academic interests, and what they share during sessions.

3. What we collect

From parents/guardians:

• Name and email address
• Billing information — processed by Stripe; we never see or store your full card number
• Communications you send us

About the student:

• First name, grade level, intended major or career interest, target schools
• Quiz responses used for Mentor matching
• Session attendance and completion records
• Messages exchanged with the Mentor through our platform

From Mentors (see also the Mentor Agreement):

• Name, current school, major, graduation year, schools admitted to
• Application materials submitted for review and display: Common Application PDF, University of California application PDF, résumé, essays, awards
• Photograph
• Payment details necessary to pay them (payments are made outside the platform)

Automatically:

• Basic usage and device data (pages viewed, browser type, approximate region) for security and to improve the site

4. Video sessions

Sessions run on Google Meet, with links generated by Running Start.

• We do not record sessions, and recording by any participant without the express consent of everyone present is prohibited by our Terms.
• Google processes video and audio during the call under Google's own privacy terms.
• We configure sessions so that the parent/student and the Mentor cannot see each other's email addresses.

5. Why we collect it

• To match a student with an appropriate Mentor
• To schedule, deliver, and track sessions
• To process payment
• To communicate about bookings and support
• To pay Mentors accurately
• To keep the platform secure and prevent misuse

We do not sell personal information. We do not share it with advertisers. We do not use student information for advertising or profiling.

6. Who we share it with

Only service providers necessary to run the platform:

We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the safety of a student, Mentor, or other person.

Mentors receive only what they need to help your student: first name, grade level, academic interests, and what you or your student choose to share during sessions.

7. How long we keep it

• Account and booking records: retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward for tax, accounting, and dispute purposes
• Quiz responses: retained to support re-matching and improve the service
• Messages: retained for the duration of the mentorship and a reasonable period afterward
• You may request deletion at any time (Section 9)

8. Security

We use industry-standard measures including encryption in transit, access-controlled databases, and restricted administrative access. No system is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your rights

Depending on where you live — and specifically if you are a California resident under the CCPA/CPRA — you may have the right to:

• Know what personal information we've collected about you or your student
• Request a copy of it
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion
• Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights

We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at the address in Section 11. We will verify your identity before acting on a request. A parent or guardian may exercise these rights on behalf of their minor student.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. Material changes will be posted with a new effective date, and where required, we will notify you directly.

11. Contact

runningstarthsprep@gmail.com

For privacy requests, please use the subject line: Privacy Request