1. INTRODUCTION
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") of Council Oak Montessori School, located at 2521 Grove Street, Blue Island, Illinois 60406, explains our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and processing of your personal information. We are committed to protecting children's privacy in accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
By accessing our website at counciloakmontessori.org or using our services, you accept the data practices described in this Policy.
ACCEPTANCE
Any entity accessing the Sites (“you”) represents and warrants that you accept the data practices and terms described in this Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy, please discontinue your use of the Sites immediately.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may revise this Policy from time to time and without prior notice to you. Except as otherwise noted in this Policy, such changes may apply to any personal information we already hold about you or personal information collected after the Policy is modified. Changes will be posted on this page and are effective as of the “Last Modified” date at the top of this Policy. Please visit this page regularly so that you are aware of our latest updates. Continuing to access or use this Site after any changes become effective indicates your acceptance of the revised Policy.
In addition, we may provide you with “just-in-time” disclosures or additional information about the data processing practices of specific parts of our Site. Such notices may supplement this Policy or provide you with additional choices about how we process your personal information.
THIRD PARTY SERVICES
Service Providers Include:
Website Hosting: Secure server infrastructure
Email Marketing: Newsletter and communication platforms
Analytics Services: Google Analytics for website performance tracking
Payment Processors: Secure payment gateway services
CRM Systems: GoHighLevel for contact management and marketing automation
Calendar/Scheduling Tools: Appointment booking systems
Communication Platforms: SMS and email service providers
Third-Party Privacy Policies
These third parties have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review:
Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
GoHighLevel Privacy Policy: https://www.gohighlevel.com/privacy-policy
Information We Collect
Personal Information
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:
• Schedule a tour or visit
• Submit an inquiry or contact form
• Register your child for enrollment
• Subscribe to our newsletter or blog updates
• Participate in school events or activities
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or in person
This information may include:
• Parent/guardian names and contact information (email, phone, address)
• Student names, dates of birth, and grade levels
• Emergency contact information
• Medical information relevant to your child's care and safety
• Academic records and assessment information
• Photographs and videos of students (with appropriate consent)
• Financial information for tuition payment processing
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:
• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
• Process enrollment applications and maintain student records
• Communicate with families about school programs, events, and updates
• Provide educational services and Montessori curriculum to students (ages 3 through 8th grade)
• Ensure student safety and well-being
• Process tuition payments and manage financial accounts
• Improve our website and educational programs
• Send newsletters, blog updates, and marketing communications (with your consent)
• Comply with legal obligations and protect our legal rights
• Respond to inquiries and provide customer support
6. DATA RETENTION
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy:
Retention Periods:
Prospective Family Inquiries: 2 years from last contact
Student Enrollment Records: 7 years after graduation or withdrawal (FERPA compliance)
Financial Records: 7 years (IRS requirements)
Marketing Communications: Until you unsubscribe or opt-out
Website Analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
Email/SMS Communications: 3 years from last interaction
After retention periods expire, we securely delete or anonymize personal information. Some data may be retained longer if required by law or for legitimate educational purposes.
Disclosure of Your Information
Information we collect may be shared with a variety of parties depending upon the purpose for and context in which that information was provided. In all cases where we share Personal Data with third parties, we will use a “minimum necessary” standard to disclose only that information required for satisfying the purpose of or performing the service for which the information is disclosed. We generally transfer Personal Data.
• Staff and Faculty: Teachers and administrators who need access to information to provide educational services
• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, payment processing, email communications, and other operational services
• Educational Partners: Organizations that support our Montessori curriculum and professional development
• Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of our school community
• Emergency Contacts: In case of medical emergencies or safety concerns involving your child
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Children's Privacy
Council Oak Montessori School serves students from age 3 through 8th grade. We are committed to protecting children's privacy in accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our website without verifiable parental consent
• Student information is collected through parents/guardians during the enrollment process
• Parents have the right to review, request corrections to, or request deletion of their child's educational records
• We obtain parental consent before photographing or recording students for promotional purposes
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS
CCPA Compliance
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
Categories of Personal Information We Collect:
- Identifiers (name, email, phone, address)
- Personal records (enrollment forms, academic records)
- Commercial information (payment history)
- Internet activity (website usage)
- Geolocation data (general location)
- Audio/visual information (photos, videos with consent)
Your California Rights:
Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, disclosed, or sold
Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise privacy rights without discriminatory treatment
How to Exercise California Rights:
Submit a verifiable request by using information below.
We will respond to verifiable requests within 45 days.
Photo and Video Consent
We may take photographs and videos of students during school activities, events, and daily classroom experiences. These images may be used for:
• School marketing materials (website, brochures, social media)
• Internal documentation and assessment
• Classroom displays and yearbooks
• Blog posts and newsletters
Parents will be asked to provide consent for the use of their child's image. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us in writing.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
• Secure servers and encrypted data transmission
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on privacy and data protection
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will:
Notify affected individuals within 72 hours of discovery
Report the breach to relevant authorities as required by law
Take immediate steps to mitigate harm and prevent future incidents
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
You can control cookies through your browser settings:
Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
Note: Disabling cookies may affect certain website features and functionality.
Your Privacy Rights
Right to Data Portability
Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to Restrict Processing
Request that we limit how we use your information.
Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on your consent.
Right to Opt-Out
Marketing Emails: Click "unsubscribe" in any email or contact us
SMS Messages: Reply "STOP" to any text message
Phone Calls: Request to be added to our do-not-call list
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.
Email Communications
If you subscribe to our newsletter or blog updates, we will send you periodic emails about school programs, events, and Montessori education topics. You may opt out of these communications at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Council Oak Montessori School
2521 Grove Street. Blue Island, IL 60406
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (708) 926-9720
Last Modified: October 14th, 2025
© 2026 Council Oak Montessori School
All rights reserved.