Privacy and Security

Headsprout is strongly committed to the privacy of customers on our Web Site, and particularly the privacy of children.

If you have additional privacy or security questions or concerns after reading this information, please contact us.

1. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Congress has enacted a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) which is designed to protect children's privacy during use of the Internet. Headsprout has implemented the following practices, which are consistent with the guidelines provided by the Federal Trade Commission to date. Headsprout will continually monitor developments in this area and update our practices. If you would like more information about COPPA, please go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/.

2. The Children's Internet Protection Act

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress in December 2000 to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding support for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program - a program that makes certain technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued rules implementing CIPA. Headsprout's reading programs are self contained and do not provide links to external resources or chat rooms. Moreover, Headsprout's reading programs do not contain any offensive or inappropriate mattter. As a result, any school or library that uses Headsprout will be fully compliant with CIPA. If you would like more information about CIPA, please go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html.

3. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

Headsprout is fully compliant with FERPA. Specifically:

• Any sensitive online information is transmitted over secure, encrypted channels via SSL as well as other layers of encryption.
• All student data are stored on secure servers utilizing encryption and firewall technology and are not publically accessible.
• All student performance data is stored in a non-identifiable format.
• Security audits are continuously performed to ensure data integrity.
• Headsprout does not share student information with any third parties. If a school requests that student data should be sent to a third party, Headsprout sends the data to the school and never directly to the third party.

If you would like more information about FERPA, please go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

4. Amendments

Headsprout may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you by email regarding any material changes to our privacy and security practices. Please review all revisions to the Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the Web Site and the Reading Programs after the date Headsprout has emailed such notices will be deemed to be your agreement to the changed terms.

5. BBBOnLine and TRUSTe Certification

Headsprout is applying for certification from TRUSTe, and BBBOnline, which are independent, non-profit organizations that seek to build users' trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting the use of fair information practices. These organizations will review Headsprout's internal practices with respect to the collection and use of data from our site to ensure that this Privacy Policy accurately reflects our practices. Once they are satisfied that Headsprout's practices conform to this Privacy Policy, they will certify the Headsprout Web Site. You can learn more about BBBOnline and TRUSTe by visiting their web sites at http://www.bbbonline.org and http://www.truste.org/.

6. Registration and Consent

Although users are able to access some areas of the Web Site without registering, a parent or legal guardian must register and activate a Headsprout account in order for a child to use the Reading Program. You will be asked to submit certain personal information about your child and you as described in this Privacy Policy, and to authorize Headsprout to use that information in a limited number of ways. By providing your credit card number, and reviewing and submitting the Parental Consent as part of the registration process, you will have consented to Headsprout's collection and use of certain information directly from your child over the Internet as described in the Privacy FAQs

7. Password Protection

During registration, you will be asked to select a password to access your account. Please keep your password confidential and do not share it with anyone else. You must use your password each time you log on to the Headsprout Web Site and to unlock each episode of the Reading Program. In addition, you will need to use your password to review and change information about your child and you.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about your privacy or security measures at Headsprout, please contact us.