THE SCHOOL OF CHOICE EDUCATION ORGANIZATION (SoC) is a non-profit 501c3 organization organized under the laws of the State of Illinois and we take your privacy seriously. If you have any questions about this policy, we can be reached by email at laura@schoolofchoice.org.  Alternatively, you can contact us at:

School of Choice Education Organization
c/o Lu Brigham, Treasurer
3200 Owl Drive
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 USA

This policy sets out the terms of our relationship as well as the basis on which any personal data that we have collected about you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.  We review this privacy policy regularly. Occasionally we may need to make changes or additions to this privacy policy that may affect how we handle your data. We will post new versions of this privacy policy on our website www.schoolofchoice.org (the “Site”). We may also notify you of changes to this privacy policy by email. This privacy policy was last reviewed and updated in May 2018.

INFORMATION WE HAVE COLLECTED, MAY COLLECT AND HOW

Visitors to the site may choose to provide information during the course of their engagement with SoC, whether as general contributors or as student sponsors.  When you choose to provide information to SoC, we maintain that personal information, such as your name, email address, country of origin, location, occupation, photos, and / or other data you upload or enter into your profile. This personal data is entered by you during the contribution process or shared by you by choice in the student sponsorship portal.  When you make a contribution to SoC, your credit card number and payment details are *not* shared with nor stored by SoC under any conditions; instead they are processed exclusively by our third party payment provider.

We also may collect data about your navigation of the Site on an aggregate basis, such as your Internet Protocol Address (“IP Address”), which is identified and logged automatically in our server log files whenever you navigate the Site, your Internet Service Provider (“ISP”), your login frequency, the pages you visited within the Site, and the Internet browser or device you are using.  You may also voluntarily provide personal information when you send us a contact through our online contact form or inquiry via email. When you contact us, we keep a record of your communication, and may use third party service providers (e-mail system provider, CRM systems), to respond or help solve any issues you might be facing in the future.

COOKIES

We use cookies on the Site and other technologies to recognize you and uniquely identify your browser. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer’s hard drive.  Using cookies helps us to provide you with a good user experience when you use the Site and also allows us to improve the Site. By continuing to use the Site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

We use cookies that are strictly necessary. These are cookies that are required for the operation of the Site. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of the Site.  We also use analytical/performance/statistical cookies. They allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around the Site when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way the Site works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.  Please note that third parties (including, for example, providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.

Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies, but you can reset your browser to refuse all cookies or indicate when a cookie is being sent. You block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of the Site and your user experience may be inferior when navigating our Site.

WHY WE COLLECT INFORMATION

Information collected may be used to provide and improve the way that we provide information to you or the service of the Site; for billing, identification and authentication purposes; to analyze the Site usage for statistical purposes; to manage and improve our products and the Site; to deliver administrative and informative notices and communications relevant to your use of our products and the Site; for internal market research; for troubleshooting problems; for detecting, protecting against and preventing fraudulent or other criminal activity; for distribution to third party contractors who provide services to us (such as our email server) who are bound by our privacy restrictions or restrictions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this policy; to enforce our Terms of Service.

WITH WHOM WE SHARE INFORMATION

We may disclose your personal information only to members of our SoC team or to our third party contractors, such as our web developer, in order to provide services for or on our behalf.

When you submit information to SoC, it is collected, processed and maintained solely by us or by our third party contractors, those third party contractors being bound by our terms of service and privacy policy or by restrictions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this policy.

We may disclose your personal information:

  • to identify, contact or bring legal action against you if you are violating our Terms of Service or other rules or if we believe you are causing injury or interference with the general public or SoC;

  • if we or substantially all of our assets are acquired by a third party, in which case personal information held by us will be some of the transferred assets; and

  • if we are under a duty to disclose or share your personal information in order to comply with any legal obligation, or in order to enforce or apply our Terms of Service and other agreements or to protect our rights, property, or safety of our customers, or others.

  • In the event that you raise a payment dispute and your bank or credit card provider requests data supporting your transaction and use of SoC assets.

OPTING IN OR OUT OF COMMUNICATIONS

By using the Site you are consenting to the terms of this privacy policy and you agree that SoC may send you communications regarding services, events and other information that may be of interest to you. You may opt out of receiving communications from us and/or our partners, and from participating in member surveys at any time by either following the simple unsubscribe process set out in each email, sending us an email at Laura@schoolofchoice.org or going to your account settings and deselecting the relevant boxes. You may opt in to receiving communications from us and/or our partners at any time by going to your account setting and selecting the relevant boxes or sending an email to Laura@schoolofchoice.org.

Please be aware that on certain, rare occasions, we will send emails to communicate important SoC messages, like changes in our privacy policy or a receipt relating to SoC transactions. These emails will not have an unsubscribe feature, as they are one-time only communications.

If you supply us with your postal address, you may receive mailings from us with information on transactions or upcoming events. If you do not wish to receive such mailings, please let us know your preferences at Laura@schoolofchoice.org.

To ensure removal from any lists, please provide us with your exact name and email address, as it appears in your SoC profile, and address when communicating with us.

WHERE WE STORE/TRANSFER YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Our main servers for registered users and members are based in the United States. However, we may collect data from individuals in the European Union and thus are subject to EU data protection laws in that regard.  By consenting to the collection and processing of your personal data, you agree to transfer, storing or processing under those laws, if they apply to you.

DATA RETENTION POLICY

SoC may retain information submitted by you or collected from you, for such time as is reasonably necessary for backup, archival and/or audit purposes, to prevent fraud or other criminal activity, or prevent violation of our Terms of Service and for such time as may be required by applicable laws.

We will remove personal information by deleting it from our database if required to do so by law. We will also delete personal information upon your request in line with the right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’) according to Art. 17 GDPR and similar local and national regulations elsewhere. According to Art. 16 GDPR (and similar local and national regulations elsewhere), following the right to rectification, we will also rectify inaccurate personal data concerning you (for both, send e-mail request to laura@schoolofchoice.org).

We regularly review the way we collect, store and process information, including physical security measures, in order to protect our systems from any unauthorized access.

All of our services are fully encrypted using SSL.

Access to any personal information is limited to SoC employees, contractors and agents, to the extent relevant to their job duties (such as processing certain information). Anyone with access to private data is bound by strict confidentiality obligations.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

The GDPR and other local and national regulations give you the right to access personal data held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with these Acts, subject to any fees that SoC may be permitted to charge you under such Acts (send e-mail request to laura@schoolofchoice.org).

NOTIFICATION OF NEW USES

On occasion, we may use personal information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in this privacy policy. In such cases, we will notify you of the content and purposes of the change by email. If you do not oppose such change in writing (by email to laura@schoolofchoice.org) within ten (10) days of the date of the email, the changes will be deemed accepted by you. Any data collection changes will be effective from then on. We will not retroactively collect data for new collection procedures.

Account. When You use the SoC site, You may be asked to provide a password. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password and for restricting access to Your computer, and You agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under Your account or password. You agree that the information you provide to SoC on registration and at all other times will be true, accurate, current, and complete. You also agree that You will ensure that this information is kept accurate and up-to-date at all times. If you have reason to believe that your account is no longer secure (e.g., in the event of a loss, theft or unauthorized disclosure or use of your account ID, password, or any credit, debit or charge card number, if applicable), then you agree to immediately notify SoC. You may be liable for the losses incurred by SoC or others due to any unauthorized use of your account. If You have more than one account on a third-party website through which you use the SoC Service, you can only access the SoC service through one, and not multiple, accounts.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NEGLIGENCE, WILL SoC OR ITS AFFILIATES, CONTRACTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS, LICENSEES, LICENSORS, OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, RELIANCE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY UNSUCCESSFUL COURT ACTION OR LEGAL DISPUTE, LOST BUSINESS, LOST REVENUES, OR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY OR NON-PECUNIARY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THAT RESULT FROM YOUR USE OF OR YOUR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE OR ANY THIRD PARTY SITES, OR ANY OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH SoC, EVEN IF SoC, ITS THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS, LICENSEES, LICENSORS, OR SUPPLIERS OR AN SoC AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH CASES, SoC’S LIABILITY, AND THE LIABILITY OF ITS THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS, LICENSEES, LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS, IF ANY, WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REGARDING DEFAULT OF LICENSORS

SoC WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, RELIANCE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY UNSUCCESSFUL COURT ACTION OR LEGAL DISPUTE, LOST BUSINESS, LOST REVENUES, OR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY OR NON-PECUNIARY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE DEFAULT OF ANY PRIVILEGE PARTNER OR LICENSOR. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH CASES, SoC’s LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

LIMITATION OF DAMAGES

IN NO EVENT WILL SoC OR ITS AFFILIATES, CONTRACTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS, LICENSEES, LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE OR YOUR INTERACTION WITH OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, WARRANTY, OR OTHERWISE), EXCEED ONE HUNDRED USD.

OTHER SITES

THESE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY ALSO APPLY WITH RESPECT TO DAMAGES INCURRED BY YOU BY REASON OF ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES SOLD OR PROVIDED ON ANY THIRD PARTY SITES OR OTHERWISE BY THIRD PARTIES OTHER THAN SoC AND RECEIVED THROUGH OR ADVERTISED ON THE SERVICE OR RECEIVED THROUGH ANY THIRD PARTY SITES.

BASIS OF THE BARGAIN.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT SoC HAS OFFERED ITS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND ENTERED INTO THESE TERMS IN RELIANCE UPON THE WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN, THAT THE WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN REFLECT A REASONABLE AND FAIR ALLOCATION OF RISK BETWEEN YOU AND SoC AND ITS THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS, LICENSEES, LICENSORS, OR SUPPLIERS, AND THAT THE WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN FORM AN ESSENTIAL BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN YOU AND SoC. SoC WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SoC SERVICE TO YOU ON AN ECONOMICALLY REASONABLE BASIS WITHOUT THESE LIMITATIONS.

LIMITATIONS BY APPLICABLE LAW

SOME COUNTRIES OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY AND JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION.

Notification

SoC may provide You with notifications, including those regarding changes and regarding the suspension/restriction and/or termination of Your account, by email, regular mail or postings on the SoC Service (no postings in case of suspension/restriction and/or termination of Your account). Notification will be deemed given forty-eight (48) hours after an email is sent. If notification is given by mail to your postal address, if provided by You through the SoC Service, it will be deemed given ten (10) days after the date of mailing. Notifications posted on SoC site will be deemed given thirty (30) days following the initial posting.

Termination without notification

Notwithstanding the section on notification, SoC may terminate/restrict your account with immediate effect and without notification period for good reason (at SoC’s sole discretion).

Acceptance of changes according to Notification

Unless You oppose the notified changes within the delay stipulated by email for the attention of Laura@schoolofchoice.org, the changes will be deemed accepted by You upon expiry of the delay stipulated. Should you oppose such changes, it may result in SoC no longer being able to render its services, and SoC may terminate your account as set out in these terms of Service (this being a good reason).

Waiver

The failure of SoC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by SoC.

Dispute Resolution, Arbitration and Jurisdiction.

  1. Governing Law. These Terms will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law.

  2. Jurisdiction. You agree that with regard to any dispute arising between You and SoC out of or in connection with these Terms (including a dispute regarding the construction and validity thereof), the ordinary courts of the State of Illinois, shall have exclusive jurisdiction, and You hereby consent and submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Notwithstanding this, either party shall still be allowed to apply for injunctive or other equitable relief to protect or enforce that party’s intellectual property rights in any court of competent jurisdiction where the other party resides or has its principal place of business.

  3. SoC operates the site from the United States and makes no representation that the site is appropriate or available in other locations. If You access the site from other locations You are solely responsible for compliance with local laws.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms or any Guidelines is held to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be limited or eliminated from these Terms to the minimum extent necessary and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

Assignment

These Terms and related Guidelines, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by You, but may be assigned by SoC without restriction. Any assignment attempted to be made in violation of this Terms of Service shall be void.

Survival

Upon termination of these Terms, any provision, which, by its nature or express terms should survive, will survive such termination or expiration.

Headings

The heading references herein are for convenience purposes only, do not constitute a part of these Terms, and will not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, the Privacy Policy and Guidelines constitute the entire agreement between You and SoC relating to the subject matter herein and will not be modified except in writing, or by a change to these Terms, Privacy Policy or Guidelines made by ASW as set forth above.

Claims

YOU AND SoC AGREE THAT ANY CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE MUST BE NOTIFIED TO THE OTHER PARTY WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES. OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.

Disclosures

The Service is hosted in the United States, and the services provided hereunder are offered by SoC.

This policy became effective on 25 May 2018.