Privacy Policy

1. About This Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how C.R. Neal Academy ("C.R. Neal Academy," "the school," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you visit our website, submit an interest form, or otherwise communicate with us. C.R. Neal Academy is a tuition-free public charter school authorized by Voorhees Charter Institute of Learning at Voorhees University and operating as a campus of Rooted School Foundation in Columbia, South Carolina.

This policy applies to information we collect through the website at crnealacademy.org (the "Site") and through related forms, emails, and community-facing communications. Once a student is enrolled, additional protections apply to that student's education records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA") and South Carolina law. Those protections are described in the school's Student Records Policy in the Student & Family Handbook.

2. Information We Collect

2a. Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you choose to provide, including:

• Interest form information: parent or guardian name, email address, student name, and current grade level.
• Communications: the content of emails, letters, calls, or messages you send to us, and any attachments.
• Event registrations: name, contact information, and event preferences when you sign up for an info session, community event, or office hours.

2b. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site we may automatically collect limited technical information, including:

• IP address, device type, browser type and version, and operating system.
• Pages viewed, time on each page, referring website, and approximate geographic location based on IP address.
• Information collected by cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see "Cookies" below).

2c. Student Education Records

The Site is not used to collect student education records. Once a student is enrolled, the school maintains education records subject to FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 C.F.R. Part 99), the South Carolina Student Data Privacy Act, and the school's Student Records Policy. Those records are not collected through the public website.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to inquiries and provide information about the school.
• To follow up with families who have expressed interest in enrollment, including sharing enrollment timelines, application processes, and lottery information when applicable.
• To invite families to community events, info sessions, office hours, and other engagement opportunities (only if you opt in).
• To improve the Site, our communications, and our outreach to the Columbia community.
• To comply with legal obligations, including reporting to our authorizer, state agencies, and federal agencies as required.
• To protect the security and integrity of our Site and to prevent fraud or unauthorized access.

4. How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information. We share information only as described below:

• Service providers: We may share information with vendors who perform services on our behalf (for example, email delivery, website hosting, form processing, analytics). Service providers are required to handle information consistent with this policy and applicable law.
• Rooted School Foundation: As a campus of Rooted School Foundation, certain administrative and operational information may be shared with the Foundation for network-level support, evaluation, and reporting. Foundation staff are subject to the same confidentiality expectations as school staff.
• Authorizer and regulators: Information may be shared with Voorhees Charter Institute of Learning, the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Public Charter School Office, the U.S. Department of Education, and other oversight bodies as required by law or authorizer agreement.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, subpoena, or other valid legal process, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of the school, our students, or the public.
• Audit and accreditation: Information may be shared with auditors, accreditors, and program evaluators who are subject to confidentiality obligations.

5. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

C.R. Neal Academy is committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the Site without parental consent, except as needed to provide educational services to enrolled students. The Site is designed primarily for parents, guardians, community members, and prospective students. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through the Site without parental consent, please contact us at info@rootedschoolcola.org and we will take prompt steps to delete it.

This policy is intended to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 ("COPPA") and the Federal Trade Commission's COPPA Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 312).

6. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Once a student is enrolled, the student and the student's parent or guardian (or eligible student aged 18 or older) have certain rights under FERPA with respect to the student's education records, including:

• The right to inspect and review education records.
• The right to request amendment of records the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information, except where FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures to comply with FERPA.

Full FERPA procedures, directory information designations, and opt-out mechanisms will be set forth in the school's Student Records Policy and annual FERPA notice to families.

7. South Carolina Student Data Privacy

C.R. Neal Academy intends to comply with applicable South Carolina student data privacy and protection requirements, including any obligations on operators of K-12 services and on local education agencies handling student data. Contracts with school-service providers will require providers to protect student data, restrict secondary uses, and provide appropriate security safeguards.

8. Cookies and Analytics

The Site may use cookies, pixel tags, and similar technologies to remember your preferences, understand how visitors use the Site, and improve our outreach. You can usually configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent; doing so may affect Site functionality. We may use analytics services (for example, Google Analytics or a comparable provider) that collect aggregate, non-identifying information about Site usage. Where required, we will provide a cookie banner and opt-in/opt-out controls before opening.

9. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the information we hold against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. No method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We will notify affected individuals of any breach involving personal information as required by applicable state and federal law.

10. Your Rights and Choices

You may:

• Request information about the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Unsubscribe from email communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us.
• Decline to provide information through the Site, with the understanding that some features (such as the interest form) may not be available without it.

11. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites (for example, Voorhees University, Rooted School Foundation, community partners, social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy on the Site with a new effective date. Material changes will be communicated through prominent notice on the Site and, where appropriate, by email to those who have provided contact information.

13. Contact Us

This policy is provided for transparency during the school's pre-opening period and is subject to review by legal counsel and our authorizer before C.R. Neal Academy opens in Fall 2027.