https://app.readseed.org

Privacy Policy

Last updated Apr 21st, 2020

*NOTE: This policy applies to the Read Seed service (app.readseed.org) and is different to that of the Read Seed website (readseed.org). To review the privacy policy of the Read Seed website, click here.

Read Seed Inc. (“Read Seed”) takes the privacy of its students, teachers and parents seriously. Read Seed is committed to protecting users’ privacy while providing a personalized and valuable learning experience.

Cookies

A “cookie” is a small text file that an Internet Service can place on your computer’s hard drive for record-keeping purposes. Cookies make using this Website easier by, among other things, saving your passwords and preferences for you, and to help identify you whenever you return to the Website, so you do not need to reenter your identification information. Most Internet browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. However, you can reset your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent (note: you may need to consult your browser’s “Help” area for instructions on how to do that).

What Does Read Seed Do With the Information It Collects?

Collected information is used for the following purposes:

To allow the teacher to manage and review student results
To allow students to perform reading activities
To allow students to see their own reading activity, results, and progress
To allow teachers to compare individual student performance against aggregate results from the entire class
To provide analytic data to teachers and school administrators
For software support purposes
For billing purposes
For statistical purposes
For research pursuant to educational purposes
For strategic development aimed at enhancing educational benefits and improving delivery of services
For customer support purposes

Read Seed User Access Privileges

Teachers are granted access to student data for the students in their classes. The school administrators may also have access to this data. Students are granted access to their personal data. Students cannot see information about other students from within their account. Teachers cannot see information about students outside of their classes.

Student Records

Student records are the property of and under the control of the school and/or school district. Students can access their student records by logging in to their student account. Parents of students under the age of 18 can access their child’s information by logging in using their child’s account, by contacting the teacher or by contacting Read Seed at support@readseed.org. Corrections of any erroneous information should first be brought to the attention of the teacher or the school administration. In the event that the teacher or school are unable to make the correction, parents should advise Read Seed at support@readseed.org who will then work with the teacher or school to facilitate correction of any erroneous information.

Third parties are not granted access to personally identifiable information or educational records or other student records except as provided in this Privacy Policy, or after first obtaining the express written consent of the parent or student over 18 years of age. Only third parties whose privacy practices are consistent with those of Read Seed will granted access under the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy. Should there be any unauthorized disclosure of a student’s records, Read Seed will notify the school, teacher, parent and student via email within 3 days following discovery of the unauthorized disclosure.

No Marketing to Students and Parents

Read Seed does not share user data with third parties for marketing purposes. Furthermore, Read Seed does not use student data for marketing of any kind, including both marketing to students and to parents.

Deletion of Student Records

The following student records are retained for a period of no more than 12 months after the last entry was made to the student account in the service:

Student audio recordings

The following student records are retained for a period of no more than 36 months after the last entry was made to the student account in the service:

Student reading activity scores including accuracy and words per minute scores
Transcripts of student speaking

Additional student information outside the categories mentioned above (e.g., name, username, email address, etc.) will be retained for a period of no more than 36 months after the last entry was made to the student account in the service.

Parents and students over the age of 18 can request to have their account, or the account of their child, and related information deleted from the Read Seed database by advising Read Seed at support@readseed.org.

Deletion of Parent and Teacher Records

Personal data of teachers and any data not already deleted that is related to a teacher’s classes will be deleted 36 months after their account has become inactive.

Regional Compliance

1. United States of America

FERPA

FERPA is an acronym for the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, a US federal law to protect the privacy of student educational records. While this act is primarily directed towards educational institutions, ReadSeed’s privacy policy is designed to secure student data in compliance with FERPA and to allow education institutions using Read Seed to be compliant with FERPA.

COPPA

COPPA is an acronym for the Child Online Privacy Protection Act, a US federal law to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13. Under the licensing agreement between Read Seed and the teachers using the Read Seed software, the teachers are responsible for obtaining parental permission should it be required under COPPA. Read Seed does provide information for teachers along with a sample parental permission document should they require one. This is available at https://support.readseed.org/article/24-read-seed-and-coppa

2. European Union

Since May 24, 2018, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) defines the rules regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information for citizens of the European Union. Read Seed is fully compliant with these rules. The European Commission has ruled that commercial entities in Canada have adequacy under the GDPR, or already provide adequate data security. For an updated listing of countries where data security is considered adequate, please visit the European Commission’s website. Read Seed only conducts business with third-party data processors in the United States that are certified under the Privacy Shield Framework, which ensures compliance with EU data protection requirements so that personal data stays secure and respected.

3. Quebec

Rights of users located in Quebec are governed by the Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector. Individual files can be accessed and modified using your user login and password, or by following the instructions in the section of the document titled “Changes to and Access to Personal Information”. Read Seed offices are at Tagawa Building 307, Hayama 1-6-5, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki 852-8053, Japan. Data is stored on Amazon servers in the country specified in the AWS region for the user’s account. Read Seed abides by article 17 of the Act with respect to the use of personal information.

Security Policy

Read Seed uses industry standard methods to protect its customer’s data against unauthorized use or access, alteration, unlawful or accidental destruction or loss. These measures include, but are not limited to, the use of encryption, physical access controls, information access controls, and anti-virus and anti-malware software. Additionally, accounts are password protected and all users are urged to take steps to keep username and password details safe. It should however be noted that 100% guarantee cannot be made due to constant advances in virus and hacking technology. Read Seed can therefore not be held responsible for data loss or alteration.

Links and Third Party Integration

Read Seed websites may contain links to other websites. Read Seed makes every effort to link only to websites related to service provision and whose privacy practices are in line with our own. Other websites, which may contain material not suitable for children, may also link to Read Seed websites without Read Seed’s knowledge or consent. Read Seed does not necessarily endorse any outside websites and Read Seed has no responsibility for the content, policies or actions of these websites.

Changes to and Access to Personal Information

Users have access to their personal information via their Read Seed user account, or by contacting the teacher or school administration. Users may also request a copy of their personal information, or can make modifications to any incorrect information by sending a written request to support@readseed.org. The following information has to be provided:

First and last name
Email
Class name and school
Student name and/or user id and/or username
Teacher name

The user will then be contacted by a member of the Read Seed team for verification purposes. Users can also correct and update their personal information using the same procedures described above.

Change of Control

In the event that all or a portion of Read Seed or its assets are acquired by or merged with a third party, personal information that we have collected from users would be one of the assets transferred to or acquired by that third party. This Privacy Policy will continue to apply to your information, and any acquirer would only be able to handle your personal information as per this policy (unless you give consent to a new policy). We will provide you with notice of an acquisition within thirty (30) days following the completion of such a transaction, by posting on our homepage, or by email to your email address that you provided to us. If you do not consent to the use of your personal information by such a successor company, you may request its deletion from the company. In the unlikely event that Read Seed goes out of business, all user information will be securely deleted within 12 months of the date of going out of business.

Disclosure of Information to Satisfy Legal Obligations

Read Seed may disclose personal information if we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to comply with the law, such as complying with a subpoena or other legal process. We may need to disclose personal information where, in good faith, we think it is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Read Seed, our employees, our community, or others, or to prevent violations of our Terms of Service or other agreements. This includes, without limitation, exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection or responding to government requests.

Changes and Updates to the Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is effective as of January 25th, 2020 and is version 1.0. Read Seed may, at its sole discretion, update, revise, modify and supplement from time to time this Privacy Policy. Should we make modifications to this policy or the related User Agreements we will send an email directly to teachers, and users of age 18 or higher, with a copy of the new documents. Read Seed’s updated Privacy Policy and User Agreements will also be posted on Read Seed’s public facing website. Continued use of the services provided by Read Seed after the updated Privacy Policy takes effect will constitute acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Consent to the Gathering and Processing of Information

By accepting the Terms of Use users are expressly giving Read Seed a special declaration that users have decided by their own free will to grant Read Seed specific authorization to collect, process and use the personal information stipulated in this Privacy Policy and to use such information in accordance with what is stipulated in this Privacy Policy. Users are further declaring that users are aware of the purpose for Read Seed collecting, processing and using such information, how the processing will be conducted, how users’ privacy will be protected and that users are authorized to withdraw their consent.

Contact

Read Seed’s service to its users and users’ trust is of utmost importance to Read Seed. If users have any questions about this Privacy Policy, users should contact Read Seed at: support@readseed.org.