Terms of Service

Welcome to Montessori Compass, a service provided by Schoolhouse Buddy, LLC (“MC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These Terms of Service (“Agreement”) govern your use of the Montessori Compass software platform, website, curriculum, and related services (collectively, the “Service”).

By accessing or using the Service, you (“you,” “User,” or “Licensee”) agree to be bound by this Agreement. If you do not agree, you may not use the Service.

1. Overview of the Service

MC provides a cloud-based online software application ("Software"), a Montessori-aligned academic curriculum ("Curriculum"), and related educational resources ("Content") for school management, classroom record keeping, and parent communication (collectively, the "Product").

2. Eligibility

The Service is intended for use by schools, administrators, educators, and authorized family members. The Account Owner must be 18 years or older and authorized by school leadership to be responsible for managing the school’s subscription. Homeschool educators and schools of all types are welcome to use the Service, provided they comply with these Terms and maintain an active subscription.

3. License Grant

Subject to payment and compliance, MC grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Product during your subscription period for educational purposes only. The license does not transfer ownership. You may not sublicense, assign, or otherwise transfer your rights under this Agreement to any third party without prior written consent from MC. You may not permit third-party access to the Product without prior written approval from MC, except where such access is required for the operation of your educational institution.

4. Subscription, Billing, and Auto-Renewal

The Product is a paid subscription service. Subscriptions may be billed monthly or annually and will automatically renew unless canceled by the Account Owner before the next billing cycle. Billing occurs at the start of each subscription term. In the event of a failed payment, MC will provide a 5-day grace period to update payment information. If payment is not received within this period, MC reserves the right to suspend access to the Service until payment is made.

MC will provide advance notice of any changes to subscription pricing or material terms via the registered email address or within the user dashboard. The Account Owner is responsible for keeping billing information current and for managing billing and cancellations.

5. Cancellation and Data Deletion

To cancel a subscription, the Account Owner must contact support@montessoricompass.com from the registered email address. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

• There are no refunds for partial subscription periods.
• Upon cancellation, user access continues through the end of the paid term.
• All school-related data, including student records, will be permanently deleted 30 days after the cancellation date unless otherwise requested by the school prior to that deadline.
• Schools may request a downloadable archive of their data prior to deletion by contacting support within this 30-day period. For data deletion requests, users must submit the request through the support portal, ensuring they have verified their identity to avoid unauthorized deletion.

6. Ownership and Intellectual Property

All rights, title, and interest in the Product remain with MC. Any intellectual property you develop using the Service remains your property, but you grant MC a perpetual license to use it solely for the purpose of providing the Service.The Software, Curriculum, and Content are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Reverse engineer, copy, modify, or create derivative works
• Export proprietary materials
• Share access credentials with unauthorized users

You may customize Curriculum within the platform for internal use, but modified content cannot be exported if it contains proprietary MC materials.

MC’s trademarks, logos, and branding may not be used in any manner without prior written permission from MC.

7. User Content and Responsibilities

Schools may upload data including student names, attendance, academic records, and media (e.g., photos). You represent and warrant that you have obtained any required parental consent and comply with applicable privacy laws including:

• FERPA (U.S.)
• COPPA (U.S.)
• GDPR (EU/EEA)
• UK GDPR (United Kingdom)
• PIPEDA (Canada)
• APA (Australia)
• LGPD (Brazil)
• POPIA (South Africa)

You also agree to comply with any other applicable data protection laws in your jurisdiction when uploading or sharing data involving students or minors.

You are responsible for ensuring that all users of the Service within your institution are trained in proper data security practices and are aware of applicable data protection laws.

MC does not monitor or review user-uploaded content and disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or appropriateness of such content.

By using the Service, you acknowledge and agree that data may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where MC or its sub-processors operate. MC will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place where required by applicable law.

MC does not guarantee compliance with data localization requirements specific to certain jurisdictions. It is your responsibility to determine whether the Service is suitable for use in countries with data residency restrictions.

You acknowledge that your school or organization is the data controller and is responsible for determining the appropriate legal basis for processing personal data under applicable laws.

8. Support Services

MC provides technical support and platform updates as part of the Service. These may include enhancements, fixes, and performance improvements. MC aims to respond to support inquiries within two (2) business days, although response times may vary depending on the nature of the request and support volume. Support is available during business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. For critical issues, please reach out directly via the emergency support line.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Use of the Product is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which outlines how data is collected, stored, shared, and deleted.

By default, your personal data will be stored in data centers located in the United States. However, upon request, we may be able to store your data in other geographic regions, subject to availability and applicable laws. If you wish to request data storage in a specific region, please contact us at support@montessoricompass.com for more information. While we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request, it is not guaranteed, and any such request will be subject to availability and legal compliance requirements.

MC does not sell personal data to third parties. Data may be shared with trusted sub-processors solely for the purpose of delivering the Service, as detailed in our Privacy Policy. A list of current sub-processors is available upon request. Users may request the deletion or export of their data at any time by contacting support.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Excluded Claims: MC is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. This includes, but is not limited to, damages resulting from:
• Loss of data
• Business interruption
• Loss of revenue or profits
• Loss of anticipated savings
• Reputational harm
• System downtime
• Inability to access or use the Service
• MC is also not liable for delays or failures in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, or government regulation.
• Cap on Liability: MC’s total aggregate liability for any and all claims arising out of or relating to the Service will not exceed the total subscription fees paid by Licensee during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
• This limitation applies to all causes of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise—even if MC has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
• Nothing in this section limits MC’s liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

11. Termination

MC may suspend or terminate access to the Service if you materially breach this Agreement, including but not limited to violations of license restrictions, failure to pay subscription fees, or misuse of the platform. In most cases, MC will provide written notice and an opportunity to cure the violation within a reasonable period before termination, unless the breach poses a security or legal risk.

Upon termination, users must immediately cease all use of the Service. Termination does not relieve you of any payment obligations incurred prior to the termination date.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alaska, United States, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

You agree that any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Anchorage, Alaska. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts and waive any objections to venue. In the event of litigation, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover legal fees and costs from the non-prevailing party.

If you access the Service from outside the United States, you do so at your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MC makes no representation that the Service is appropriate or available for use in other jurisdictions.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree that the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply, and that any mandatory consumer protection laws in your country of residence are waived to the extent permissible by law.

Both parties waive the right to a jury trial.

13. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force. No delay or failure by MC to exercise any right shall constitute a waiver.

14. Assignment and Successors

This Agreement is binding upon both parties and their permitted successors. You may not assign this Agreement without prior written consent from MC. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or change of control, MC reserves the right to assign or transfer this Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder without your prior consent.

15. Notices and Communications

You agree to receive all notices electronically. Notices may be delivered via email to the address on file, or through the Service's platform interface for important updates or critical service changes. In addition to email notices, MC may provide in-app notifications for critical service updates.For support-related issues, contact support@montessoricompass.com. For legal matters, email legal@montessoricompass.com.

16. Revisions

MC reserves the right to modify this Agreement at any time by posting an updated version on our website. We will make reasonable efforts to notify users of material changes in advance, such as through email or dashboard notifications. Continued use after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Agreement.

For additional terms governing your use of the Service, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Effective Date: May 1, 2025