ALEKS Privacy Statement

(Last Updated 8/10/2006)

This privacy statement discloses the privacy practices of ALEKS Corporation ("ALEKS") for our website: www.aleks.com (the "ALEKS Website").

Some of our privacy policies apply only to K-12 students using ALEKS through their school (see below).  If you would like to go directly to those privacy policies for K-12 students, please click here.

ALEKS is the sole owner of the information collected on the ALEKS Website. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement. ALEKS collects information from our users at several different points on our website, including information about the knowledge of users of our services in order to provide instructional services suitable to their needs.

ALEKS agrees to notify you of:

1. What personally identifiable information is collected through the ALEKS Website 

2. The organization collecting the information

3. How the information is used

4. With whom the information may be shared

5. What choices are available to you regarding collection, use and distribution of the information

6. The kind of security procedures that are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of information under ALEKS' control

7. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information

8. The special policies we follow with respect to information regarding children under the age of 13.

If you have any questions of any kind or feel that we are not abiding by our posted privacy policy, you should contact our Director of Customer Support by e-mailing: support@aleks.com.

Registration

In order to use the ALEKS Website, a user must first complete the registration form. During registration a user is required to provide contact information (such as name, mailing address and email address), and choose the educational grade level and topic on which the user wishes instruction. With this information, we will assign a login name and password for use each time the user returns to our site.

We request information from the user or the parent or guardian of the user on our billing information form for the services offered on the ALEKS Website. Here a user must provide contact information (name and billing address) and financial information (credit card number and expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes. If we have trouble processing the billing information, this contact information is used to get in touch with such user, parent, or guardian.

Website Operator

The ALEKS Website is operated by ALEKS Corporation; 15641 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 150; Tustin, California 92780; phone: 714.245.7191; e-mail: contact@aleks.com.

Plug-ins and Cookies:

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user. A plug-in is software which the user downloads and is installed into the user's web browser that enables certain web software to operate. Cookies enable us to protect confidential data, and track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on the ALEKS Website. In order to use the ALEKS Website, a user must accept the installation of one or more ALEKS plug-ins into the user's browser. Cookies and the ALEKS plug-in are not linked to any personally identifiable information.

 Log Files

As is true of most Web sites, we gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. This information includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data. We use this information to analyze trends, administer the site, track users' movements, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Log files are are linked to personally identifiable information for puposes of (i) tracking and fixing software "bugs" and (ii) as and to the extent required by applicable law.

 

Sharing

Personally Identifiable Information: ALEKS does not share personally identifiable information with third parties except for the limited situations described below.

Credit Card Processing: We use an outside credit card processing company to bill users for our services. This company does not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

Third Party Partners: In the future, it is possible that ALEKS will provide additional services, or will partner with another party to provide specific services to the users of the ALEKS Website. In that event, such parties will not be allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services. In addition we will obtain verifiable parental consent as described below before any personally identifiable information pertaining to a child under the age of 13 is shared with a third party partner.

Non-Personally Identifiable Information: ALEKS reserves the right to disclose to third parties non personally identifiable information about our users and their use of the ALEKS Website and related services. For example, ALEKS may disclose aggregate data about the overall patterns or demographics of the users of the ALEKS Website to third parties.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that ALEKS is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by the ALEKS Website.

Transmission Errors or Unauthorized Acts

Although ALEKS will use reasonable efforts to safeguard the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, transmissions made by means of the Internet cannot be made absolutely secure. ALEKS will not be liable for disclosures of personally identifiable information due to errors in transmission or unauthorized acts of third parties.

Required by Law

ALEKS may be required by law to release information regarding our users to law enforcement officials or to use the information internally to permit the investigation of credit card fraud, illegal use of the Internet, violation of our terms of service or other cases of misconduct on the ALEKS Website. We reserve the right to disclose personally identifiable information under such circumstances, or when we believe that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights or to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or other legal process.  

Change of Ownership

In the event that there is a change of ownership or sale of assets of ALEKS, whatever information that we have collected from the ALEKS Website may be transferred to a new owner. ALEKS will use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the new owners of the information follow the same privacy practices that are described in this Privacy Statement.

We will notify you of new ALEKS features and updates via email, unless you remove the checkmark next to the text requesting such notification which appears under our request for your email address in our Account Creation forms. We also send periodic student reports of childrens' progress via email, unless you remove the checkmark next to the text requesting such reports which appears under our existing student account or new student registration information in our Account Creation forms. In order to continue to receive student reports while subscribing to our services, you must provide us with your new email address each time you change it.  

From time-to-time it is possible that our site will request information from users via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. Information requested may include contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code, age level). Contact information will be used to notify the winners and award prizes. Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site.

If a user elects to use any referral service we may provide for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the friend's name and email address. ALEKS will automatically send the friend a one-time email inviting them to visit the site. ALEKS stores this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email. The friend may request the removal of this information from their database by clicking on the removal link at the bottom of the invitation.

As part of the registration process, users are assigned a login name as described above (see "Registration" above) and an anonymous password. ALEKS will use the login name and password to identify the user on all subsequent visits to the K-12 Site. It is the user's responsibility to keep his or her password confidential.

ALEKS takes every precaution to protect our users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and off-line.

When our registration/order form asks users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - Secure Socket Layer ("SSL") protocol. To use this protection technology, you need to have an SSL-capable browser, such as Netscape Navigator 4.5 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 or higher. While on a secure page, such as our billing information form, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when you are just 'surfing'.

While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also do everything in our power to protect user-information off-line. All of our users' information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, our billing clerk or a customer service representative) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Finally, the servers that we store personally identifiable information on are kept in a secure environment, behind a locked cage.

If you have any questions about the security at our website, you can send an email to security@aleks.com.

We send all new members a welcoming email to verify password and username. Established members will occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals. We may send our customers a newsletter. Out of respect for the privacy of our users we present the option to not receive these types of communications. Please see our choice and opt-out below.

We send site and service related announcements to users on occasion when the information contained in such announcements is important.  For instance, if our service were to be temporarily suspended for maintenance, we might send such an email.  You may not opt-out of these communications, which are not promotional in nature.  If you do not wish to receive them, you have the option to deactivate your account. 

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your zip code), or if a user no longer desires our service, we will endeavor to provide a way to correct, update or remove that user's personal data provided to us.

Our users are given the opportunity to 'opt-out' of having their information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for the information. For example, our billing information form has an 'opt-out' mechanism so users who buy a product from us, but don't want any marketing material, can keep their e-mail address off of our lists.

Users who do not wish to receive certain communications, such as newsletters or promotional materials from ALEKS or our partners may opt-out of receiving these communications by clicking on the opt-out link on the bottom of e-mail communications, or by notifying us in regard to other communications at support@aleks.com.

In the event we in the future offer services that require outside parties, users of our site will be notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We would do this so our users can make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with services that require an outside party, or not.

We will not knowingly collect online contact information from a child under age 13 without prior verifiable parental consent or direct parental notification of the nature and intended use of this information, which shall include an opportunity for the parent to prevent use of the information and participation in the activity. Where prior verifiable parental consent is not obtained, online contact information shall only be used to directly respond to the child's request and shall not be used to re-contact the child for other purposes.

Except as described below under "Privacy Policies that Apply Only to Children from Kindergarten through 12th Grade Using ALEKS through their School," children under 13 years old may use ALEKS only if the child's parent or guardian has paid for such use with such parent or guardian's credit card; such payment is verifiable parental consent. Children under 13 years old are not permitted to use any ALEKS "guest" or "free trial" features, because we are unable to obtain verifiable parental consent for their use of such features.

We will not collect personally identifiable information from children under 13 without prior verifiable parental consent. We will not distribute to third parties any personally identifiable information collected from a child under 13 without prior verifiable parental consent. We will not give the ability to children under 13 to publicly post or otherwise distribute personally identifiable information without prior verifiable parental consent, and will make best efforts to prohibit a child from posting any such information. We will not entice a child under 13 by the prospect of a special game, prize or other activity, to divulge more information than is needed to participate in such activity.

Notification of Changes

ALEKS reserves the right to change this Privacy Statement, or any other ALEKS policy or practice, at any time. Any changes or updates to this Privacy Statement will be effective upon posting to the ALEKS Website. Although we may change or update this Privacy Statement at any time, ALEKS will provide notice of any material changes to this Privacy Statement by posting a notice on the home page of the ALEKS Website. For your information, the date of the last update to this Privacy Statement is listed at the top of this page. We have also provided a print button below so that you can keep a copy of this Privacy Statement for your records.

Contact Us

Privacy and security are important to us all. We welcome your feedback and thoughts on privacy and security. If you have any questions, or feel that we are not abiding by this Privacy Statement, please contact us by e-mailing our Director of Customer Support at support@aleks.com.

In additon to the policies above, which apply to all users of the ALEKS Website, the following policies apply only to K-12 Students.

1. What are ALEKS's Practices Regarding the Collection of Information from K-12 Students under the age of 13? 

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, and the regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time ("COPPA), governs the collection and use of personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13 by a website. In an effort to meet COPPA's requirements, ALEKS will not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13, except for limited circumstances that are allowed under COPPA. ALEKS intends to comply with COPPA in all its dealings with its users.

If ALEKS desires to collect personally identifiable information from a K-12 Student under 13 at some time in the future, ALEKS will not do so unless we have met the requirements of COPPA. Among other things, COPPA requires that before any such information is collected, websites must obtain verifiable parental consent and notify parents of the nature and intended use of the personally identifiable information that it collects, which shall include an opportunity for the parent to prevent use of the information and participation in the activity.

2. What Information Do We Collect from K-12 Students and How Do We Use It?

Personally Identifiable Information: ALEKS does not collect personally identifiable information from K-12 Students who are (i) below the High School level, or (ii) who are High School students below the age of 13 (collectively, "Younger K-12 Students"), except in the limited circumstances described in "One Time Request for Information" below. ALEKS does collect personally identifiable information from K-12 Students (i) who are High School Students and (ii) whose age is greater than 13 ("Older K-12 Students"). Personally identifiable information means information that could be used to contact a child, such as a complete last name, physical address, e-mail address, telephone number or Social Security number.

Registration: In order to use ALEKS, a K-12 Student must first complete the K-12 Site registration form. During registration, Older K-12 Students will be asked to provide personally identifiable information, such as complete first and last name, student identification number, e-mail address, etc. Younger K-12 Students will not be asked to provide any personally identifiable information, such as complete last name, mailing address or email address. Instead, Younger K-12 Students will be asked to provide non-personally identifiable information, such as their first name, last initial, school and/or class code or other class specific information and their teacher's name, and to indicate the student's educational grade level. With this information, ALEKS will assign each K-12 Site user with a login name and password to use each time the user returns to the K-12 Site. In the case of Younger K-12 Students, the login name will contain only information available to ALEKS, such as first name, first initial of last name, and algorithmically assigned alpha-numeric characters.

Example: if John Smith , a 7th grade student registers in ALEKS, he will furnish only his first name: "John" and the first initial of his last name: "S." ALEKS may assign him the login name "JohnS05324." ALEKS will not be able to personally identify this student from this information.

Teacher and School Access to Information: Even though ALEKS will not have access to personally identifiable in regard to Younger K-12 Students, ALEKS will supply information on each ALEKS student (including login name) to the student's teacher and school. This information contains a large amount of information about the individual student's (and the class and/or school as a whole's) skills, knowledge and performance on individual items of study, such as math topics and problems. Even though ALEKS has no access to personally identifiable information in regard to Younger K-12 Students, from the login name of the student, together with other information that the teacher and school generally have available to them, the teacher and school will normally be able to personally identify the student. This means, in effect, that the teacher will generally be able to obtain information from ALEKS as to each individual child's knowledge, skills, performance, work habits, etc., just as the teacher would from other, less automated, instructional tools, even though ALEKS is not able to identify any individual Younger K-12 Student.

Example: Ms. Brown, a 7th grade teacher, has two John's in her class: John Jones and John Smith. John Smith has the ALEKS login name: JohnS05324 and John Jones has the login name: JohnJ00735. When Ms. Brown uses the ALEKS teacher module, even though ALEKS does not have any personally identifiable information regarding either of these Younger K-12 Students, Ms. Brown can readily identify the individual students. 

One Time Request for Information: The normal procedure for requesting and receiving customer support in the school environment is for the student to ask the teacher for help, and for the teacher to contact ALEKS if necessary. If a Younger K-12 Student does send an e-mail directly to ALEKS to ask a question or report a problem, it is preferred that the student do so inside the ALEKS internal email system, in which case ALEKS will not obtain any personally identifiable information in regard to that student. In the rare event that a student insists on sending ALEKS an e-mail requesting support from an e-mail address external to ALEKS, ALEKS will use such e-mail address for the sole purpose of responding to that support request from the Younger K-12 Student. ALEKS will not use the information to recontact the child after the customer support issue has been resolved, and any personally identifiable information will be deleted from ALEKS Customer Support records after a response is made.

Consent: By permitting K-12 Students to access and use the ALEKS Website, school districts, schools, teachers and parents of student users are consenting to the provisions of this Privacy Statement, including the use of information by ALEKS in the manner described in this Privacy Statement.

Contact Us: Privacy and security are important to us all. We welcome your feedback and thoughts on privacy and security. If you have any questions, or feel that we are not abiding by this Privacy Statement, please contact us by e-mailing our Director of Customer Support at support@aleks.com.