STEPCAI Privacy Policy

Effective date: July 8, 2026

STEPCAI (“we,” “us,” the “site”) is a free online learning tool where teachers build lessons and students take them. This page explains, in plain language, what information we collect, why, and the choices you have. If anything here is unclear, please contact us.

1. Information we collect

Account information — when you register we ask for a username, a password (stored only as a one-way encrypted “hash,” never as readable text), your name, and an email address.
Optional profile details — you may add a phone number, mailing address, and a profile picture. These are optional; you can leave them blank and still use the site.
Learning lesson — the lessons you take and your scores and time spent, so you and (for students in a class) your teacher can see your progress. Guests who are not signed in have no scores saved.
Sign-in records — for security we log sign-ins, including the IP address, browser, and approximate device information of the connection.
Payment information — none. STEPCAI is free: there is nothing to buy and we never ask you for a card.

2. How we use it

We use your information to run your account, save and show your learning progress, let teachers manage their classes, keep the site secure, and — if you contact us — reply to you. We do not sell your personal information.

3. Advertising

The site is free and is supported by advertising through Google AdSense. Google and its partners may use cookies to show ads. All ads are removed for VIP accounts (a paid $100/year subscription). The ads are also stood down while anybody is taking a live Test or Exam. You can learn about and control ad personalization at Google’s Ads page. Where required, schools should obtain any needed consent before directing students under 13 to an ad-supported service, or use an ad-free arrangement.

4. Children’s privacy (COPPA) and schools (FERPA)

STEPCAI is intended to be used by students under the direction of a teacher or school, or with a parent’s involvement. We do not knowingly collect more personal information from a child than is needed to use the site. Schools and teachers are responsible for obtaining any consent required by law (such as COPPA in the United States) before students under 13 create accounts, and for their obligations to student records (such as FERPA). A parent, teacher, or school may ask us to review or delete a student’s information at any time — see section 7.

5. How we protect information

Passwords are stored as salted PBKDF2 hashes, not as readable text. We limit repeated failed sign-in attempts to make password guessing difficult. We keep only the minimum payment details described above. No method of storage is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your information.

6. Sharing

We share information only as needed to run the site: a student’s scores are visible to the teacher of a class they join; our advertising and hosting providers process data on our behalf; and we may disclose information if required by law. We do not otherwise sell or rent your information.

7. Your choices and rights

You can view and update your profile at any time, remove a saved payment card, or ask us to close your account and delete your personal information. To make a request, use the Contact Us page.

8. Changes to this policy

If we change this policy we will update the effective date above. Please check back from time to time.