Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") governs the use of Lit-Level™ ("Service"), operated by ERM Solutions. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that the Service is used in a safe, respectful, and lawful manner that supports educational goals and protects the rights and privacy of all users.

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to comply with this Policy. Violation of this Policy may result in suspension or termination of your account.

2. Acceptable Use

The Service is designed exclusively for educational purposes. Users may:

• Students: Complete reading assignments, participate in interactive stories, practice comprehension skills, and track personal progress
• Teachers: Create and manage student accounts, assign reading activities, monitor student progress, generate reports, and create custom learning content
• Administrators: Oversee school or district-wide implementation, manage teacher accounts, and review aggregated performance data
• Parents/Guardians: Monitor their child's progress (through teacher or school access), support home learning activities

3. Prohibited Conduct

Users must NOT engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

3.1 Unlawful or Harmful Activities

• Violate any local, state, federal, or international law or regulation
• Engage in any form of harassment, bullying, intimidation, or threatening behavior
• Post, share, or transmit content that is obscene, defamatory, hateful, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate for an educational environment
• Impersonate another person, organization, or entity
• Violate the intellectual property rights of others

3.2 Data and Privacy Violations

• Access, use, or disclose another user's personal information without authorization
• Share student login credentials with unauthorized individuals
• Attempt to access accounts, data, or systems that you are not authorized to access
• Collect, harvest, or scrape user data without express permission
• Share student data with third parties in violation of FERPA, COPPA, or other applicable privacy laws

3.3 System Abuse and Security Violations

• Attempt to hack, breach, disable, or compromise the security of the Service
• Introduce viruses, malware, worms, trojan horses, or other malicious code
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access the Service without authorization
• Overburden, disable, or impair the Service's servers or networks
• Probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of the Service without permission
• Circumvent or disable any security features, authentication measures, or access controls
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service

3.4 Misuse of Educational Tools

• Share answers or help students cheat on assessments
• Manipulate student progress data or scores
• Use the Service for purposes other than education (e.g., commercial use, marketing)
• Create fake accounts or multiple accounts to gain unfair advantages

3.5 Content Violations

• Upload, post, or share content that violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
• Post content that is sexually explicit, violent, or otherwise inappropriate for K-12 students
• Share personal contact information (addresses, phone numbers, social media handles) in public or shared spaces
• Use the Service to advertise, promote, or solicit commercial products or services

4. Student-Specific Guidelines

Students are expected to:

• Use the Service only for assigned educational activities
• Keep their login credentials private and secure
• Treat other students, teachers, and all users with respect
• Report any inappropriate behavior, content, or technical issues to their teacher
• Not share personal information (last name, address, school name) in public spaces
• Only upload photos with parental/school permission

5. Teacher and Administrator Responsibilities

Teachers and administrators must:

• Obtain proper consent from parents/guardians before creating student accounts (as required by COPPA)
• Protect student privacy and comply with FERPA regulations
• Monitor student use of the Service for safety and appropriateness
• Ensure that only authorized personnel have access to student data
• Report any security incidents, data breaches, or policy violations immediately
• Use student data only for legitimate educational purposes
• Not share student data with unauthorized third parties

6. Reporting Violations

If you become aware of any violation of this Acceptable Use Policy, please report it immediately:

• Students: Report to your teacher or school administrator
• Teachers/Administrators: Contact ERM Solutions at [email protected]
• Security Issues: Report to [email protected]

7. Consequences of Violations

Violations of this Policy may result in one or more of the following actions:

• Warning: A formal warning and reminder of acceptable use guidelines
• Temporary Suspension: Temporary loss of access to the Service
• Permanent Termination: Permanent removal from the Service
• Legal Action: Referral to law enforcement or pursuit of civil remedies for serious violations
• School Disciplinary Action: Referral to school administration for student conduct violations

The severity of consequences will depend on the nature and frequency of the violation. ERM Solutions reserves the right to take immediate action, including account suspension or termination, for serious violations.

8. Monitoring and Enforcement

ERM Solutions reserves the right to:

• Monitor use of the Service for compliance with this Policy
• Investigate suspected violations and review user content and activity logs
• Remove content that violates this Policy
• Suspend or terminate accounts that violate this Policy
• Cooperate with law enforcement in investigating criminal activity

Monitoring will be conducted in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws. We will not access student content except as necessary to enforce this Policy, respond to support requests, or comply with legal obligations.

9. Modifications to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time. We will notify schools and teachers of material changes by email or through the Service. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

10. Acknowledgment

By using Lit-Level™, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with this Acceptable Use Policy. Schools and teachers are responsible for ensuring that students and parents are informed of this Policy.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, please contact us: