Effective Date
March 15, 2025
General
At Mela Mela, We care about Your personal information. This Privacy Policy covers Mela Mela, Inc. (“Mela Mela,” “We,” “Us,” “Our”) policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information and/or personal information, as defined by applicable law (collectively “Personal Information”) when visitors access, use, or otherwise interact with Our Website (https://mela-mela.org) and Our Web Application (https://app.mela-mela.org). We refer to these products and services collectively as Our “Services”.
Depending upon the nature of Your relationship with Mela Mela, different aspects of Our Privacy Policy may apply to You as described below:
Our Website Privacy Notice, if You are visiting Our Website to learn more about Our Services, Our company, or to request a demonstration of our Web Application.
Our Web Application Privacy Notice, if You are a User of Our Web Application service.
If You (“You”, “Your”) choose to use Our Services, then You agree to the collection and use of information in relation to this policy. The personal information We collect is used to provide and improve Our Services. We will not use or share Your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.
The terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in Our Terms of Service, which is accessible at www.mela-mela.org, unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy.
PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE HANDLE YOUR INFORMATION. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT USE THE SERVICE.
II. Our Website Privacy Notice
What Information We Collect
For a better experience while using Our Website, We may require You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information. The information We collect will be used to contact or identify You.
Sign-up Information. Your contact information including Your full name and email address.
Website Usage Data. This includes
Usage Data, including how and when You use the Website, such as usage times, features accessed, and duration of use.
Device Information, including details about the device used to access Our Service, including IP address, browser type, and operating system.
Technical Support Requests, including details of issues reported and support interactions.
C. Cookies. Cookies are files with small amounts of data that are commonly used as an anonymous unique identifier. These are sent to Your browser from the website that You visit and are stored on Your computer's hard drive. Our website uses these "cookies" to collect information and to improve Our Service. We do not utilize 3rd party cookies.
How We use Your information
This section explains how Mela Mela collects and uses information from visitors to our Website. If you use the Mela Mela Web Application, please refer to III: Our Web Application Privacy Notice (below) for details on how we handle data within the app.
At Mela Mela, we respect your privacy and use your information solely to:
Communicate with You. Mela Mela may use the email address you provide to send you information about our demo, follow up on your interest, and share occasional updates about new features, services, or opportunities related to Mela Mela.
Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors engage with our Website. Google Analytics uses first-party cookies to collect data on site usage, which helps us improve our content and user experience. These reports provide aggregated insights and do not identify individual visitors. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google’s browser add-on.
Legal Purposes. We may process and share personal information if required to comply with legal obligations, such as subpoenas or court orders. Additionally, we may disclose information to protect our rights, prevent fraud, assist law enforcement, or respond to security concerns.
Notice concerning Do Not Track
Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that Users can set in certain web browsers. We currently do not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals from web browsers.
How We disclose Your information
Mela Mela does not sell Personal Information or share Personal Information with third parties for advertising purposes. We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist in operating Our Website, including data storage, security, and analytics.. They have access to perform these services but are prohibited from using Your information for other purposes.
Retaining Your information
We keep Your information for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it is processed. The length of time for which We retain information depends on the purposes for which We collected and use it and/or as required to comply with applicable laws.
Protecting Your information
We value Your trust in providing Us Your Personal Information, and We strive to use commercially acceptable means of protecting it. But remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and We cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Links to Other Sites
Our website may contain links to third-party sites. Clicking a third-party link will take you to their website. Note that these external sites are not operated by Us. Therefore, We strongly advise You to review the Privacy Policy of these websites. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Your privacy rights
Some U.S. state privacy laws require specific disclosures.
Our Website Privacy Notice is designed to help You understand how Mela Mela handles Your information:
We explain the categories of information Mela Mela collects related to Our Website and the sources of that information in What Information We Collect.
We explain the purposes for which Mela Mela collects and uses information related to Our Website usage in How We Use Your Information.
We explain when Mela Mela may disclose information related to Our Website usage in How We Disclose Your Information. Mela Mela does not sell Your personal information. Mela Mela also does not “share” Your personal information as that term is defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
We explain how Google retains Our Website information in How We Retain Your Information.
If You would like further information regarding Your legal rights or would like to exercise any of them, please submit a privacy request at ops@mela-mela.org.
Unsubscribing to Marketing Emails
You can unsubscribe from Our marketing emails via the unsubscribe link provided in the emails. Please note that it may take Us some time, consistent with Our legal obligations, to process Your request. Even if You opt out from receiving marketing messages from Us, You will continue to receive administrative messages from Us if You have subscribed to our Service, such as updates to Our policies and practices, or other communications regarding Our relationship or transactions with You.
III: Our Web Application Privacy Notice
What Information We Collect
For a better experience while using Our Web Application, We may require You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information. The information We collect will be used to contact or identify You.
Account Usage Information.
Usage Data, including Your first name, last name, email address (serves as Username) and user role.
Student Information. As a User of Our Web Application, Users in their role as Educators may provide personal information about their students,such as:
Student’s grade-level
IEP details, including goal name, baseline skills, target date, target accuracy, collection strategy, goal category, and state standard code
Data related to student goal data collection sessions, including scores, time, session notes, digital assets such as photographs of student work
Product related information.
Usage Data, including how and when You use Our Web Application, such as login times, features accessed, and duration of use.
Device Information, including details about the device used to access Our Web Application, including IP address, browser type, and operating system.
Activity Logs: Records of activities performed within Our Web Application, such as lessons completed, quizzes taken, and resources accessed.
Technical Support Requests: Details of issues reported and support interactions.
C. Cookies. Cookies are files with small amounts of data that are commonly used as an anonymous unique identifier. These are sent to Your browser from the website that You visit and are stored on Your computer's hard drive. Our Web Application uses these "cookies" to collect information and to improve Our Web Application. We do not utilize 3rd party cookies.
How We Use Your Information
This section explains how Mela Mela collects and uses information within Our Web Application. If you are visiting Our Website, please refer to II: Our Website Privacy Notice (above) for details on how We handle data collected from website visitors.
At Mela Mela, We respect Your privacy and use Your information solely to:
Provide and improve Our Web Application. Mela Mela processes Your information to operate, enhance, and personalize Your experience within the Web Application. We may share personal information with third-party service providers, such as Amazon Web Services, to support functionality. All vendors handling student Personally Identifiable Information (PII) must comply with the privacy commitments outlined in this policy.
User Account Management. We use Your information to manage user accounts, including authentication, customer support, and account maintenance.
Generative Artificial Intelligence: We use local AI image classification technology to detect and prevent the upload of images containing faces. No other user data is used in any AI models.
Communicate with You. We may use the email address You provide to send essential messages, including policy updates, product changes, and responses to inquiries.
Ensuring Compliance. We process user information to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and to meet other legal obligations.
Security Monitoring. Mela Mela may use Your information to ensure that the rights, safety and property of Mela Mela, Our users, or others are protected.
Anonymous information. We may process aggregated, de-identified, or anonymized data for any purpose. Such information is not considered personal information under this policy.
Note: Mela Mela employs tools, including AI image classification technology, to monitor for faces in digital imagery and prevent the capture and upload of images containing faces.
Use Of Student Data
Student data is collected, used, shared, and retained only for educational purposes as approved by the educational institution or teacher. Mela Mela will not use Student Information for advertising, targeting, or personalization purposes under any circumstances. In addition, Mela Mela will not build a personal profile of a student beyond supporting authorized educational purposes or as authorized by the parent/student.
Mela Mela will disclose clearly in this Privacy Policy (above) and in any contracts entered into with Users, what type of student information or student PII we collect, what we use this information for, and how and for what purpose it is shared with third parties.
Notice Concerning Do Not Track
Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that users can set in certain web browsers. We currently do not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals from web browsers.
How We Disclose Your information
Mela Mela does not sell Personal Information or share Personal Information with third parties for advertising purposes. We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist in operating Our Web Application, including data storage, security, and analytics. They have access to perform these services but are prohibited from using Your information for other purposes.
Disclosure Of Student Data
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. 12332(g)) (“FERPA”), educational entities that receive federal funds regarding disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) in education records have obligations to protect the privacy and disclosure of student personally identifiable information.
When Mela Mela enters into a contractual agreement with a User, both parties agree that Mela Mela shall be considered a “school official” under FERPA, with a legitimate educational interest in PII from education records. This is because Mela Mela:
is under the direct control and supervision of the User as set forth in the agreement, and
provides a function for which the User would otherwise use employees, and
is subject to the requirements of FERPA governing the use and redisclosure of PII from education records.
How We Retain Your Information
Mela Mela does not retain Student PII beyond the time necessary for authorized educational purposes unless required by law. Upon request, student data will be securely deleted in accordance with our standard retention policies.
Access and Correction Of Student Data
Eligible students or their authorized parents may request access to or correction of student data by contacting their educational institution or Mela Mela directly at ops@mela-mela.org.
Notice Of Policy Changes
Mela Mela will provide clear and advance notice to Users before making material changes to this Privacy Notice that affect the use of Student PII.
Successor Entities And Data Commitments
If Mela Mela is acquired or merges with another entity, the successor entity must comply with the same student data privacy commitments outlined in this policy.
How We Protect Your Information
We value Your trust in providing Us Your Personal Information, and We strive to use commercially acceptable means of protecting it. We maintain administrative, technological, and physical safeguards to protect Your information, including Student PII, against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. But remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and We cannot guarantee its absolute security.
We implement industry-standard security measures, including:
Encryption of User data. Mela Mela maintains industry-standard technical and administrative measures to protect User data, including student data, such as industry standard encryption technologies when transferring and storing Student Data. Student Data is encrypted both during transfer (HTTPS) and in storage (AES-256).
Restricted access. Mela Mela maintains a commercially reasonable policy that restricts access to User data, including student data, to Mela Mela personnel that require access to perform their work duties.
Secure third-party vendors. Mela Mela uses third-party vendors to assist in storing and protecting student data, including Amazon Web Services (“AWS”). Mela Mela’s Web Servers, Databases and Document Storage are hosted on AWS. The third-party vendors use industry-standard access controls and encryption when storing and transferring Student Data.
Security assessments. Mela Mela conducts periodic assessments and takes steps to remediate any identified security vulnerabilities in a timely manner. Mela Mela uses AWS industry-standard practices related to security and periodically audits its hosting vendors’ data access logs to ensure no unauthorized access occurs. Mela Mela maintains a written incident response plan, which includes but is not limited to, notification obligations to Users in the event of an actual security incident, as well as procedures for responding to an actual security event.
Links To Other Sites
Our Service may contain links to other sites. If You click on a third-party link, You will be directed to that site. Note that these external sites are not operated by Us. Therefore, We strongly advise You to review the Privacy Policy of these websites. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Your Privacy Rights
Some U.S. state privacy laws require specific disclosures.
This Privacy Notice is designed to help You understand how Mela Mela handles Your information as it relates to Our Web Application:
We explain the categories of information that the Mela Mela Web Application collects and the sources of that information in What Information We Collect.
We explain the purposes for which the Mela Mela Web Application collects and uses information in How We Use Your Information.
We explain when Mela Mela may disclose information related to Our Web Application in How We Disclose Your Information. Mela Mela does not sell Your personal information. Mela Mela also does not “share” Your personal information as that term is defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
We explain how Mela Mela retains information related to Our Web Application in How We Retain Your Information.
For more information on Your privacy rights or to make a request, contact us at ops@mela-mela.org.
IV. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update Our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus,We will notify Users of material changes to our Privacy Policy in a clear manner and provide choices before data is used inconsistently with the original terms. We will notify Users of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. These changes are effective immediately, after they are posted on this page.
V. Contact Us
If You have any questions or suggestions about Our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact Us at ops@mela-mela.org.