Risen for Schools Terms of Service

Welcome to Risen for Schools! We are glad your school is here. Before you begin, please take a few minutes to read these Terms of Service (“Terms”). They are a binding agreement between Risen (“Risen,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and you, and they govern your access to and use of the Risen for Schools software platform, including its website, content, and related services (collectively, the “Service”).

Risen for Schools is a platform that makes Catholic faith formation fun and engaging for students. It gives educators the tools to guide students, track their progress, and ultimately help them grow in their faith. It is built for schools, provided to schools, and used by students only under a school’s direction.

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you are accepting on behalf of a school, you represent that you have authority to bind that school. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Who These Terms Apply To

1.1 Schools. A “School” is a Catholic school, diocese, parish, or other educational institution that has entered into a written pilot agreement, subscription agreement, or order form with Risen (a “School Agreement”). The School is our customer and controls how the Service is used within its community.

1.2 Educators. An “Educator” is a teacher, catechist, campus minister, or administrator whom a School designates to use the Service. Educators use the Service on the School’s behalf and must follow both these Terms and the School’s own policies.

1.3 Students. A “Student” is a person enrolled at a School whose account is created or approved by the School. Students, including Students under 18, may create an account only through an invitation link or join code that an Educator provides, and may use the Service only as directed by an Educator. A Student cannot join the Service without access issued by a School.

1.4 Parents and Guardians. Parents and legal guardians of Students are not users of the Service unless a School grants them access, but they have important rights regarding their child’s information, described in Section 4 and in the Risen for Schools Privacy Policy.

1.5 Order of Precedence. If a School Agreement conflicts with these Terms, the School Agreement controls for that School and its Educators and Students. Where a School Agreement is silent, these Terms apply. Nothing in these Terms reduces any student-data protection that Risen has committed to in a School Agreement.

2. What the Service Provides

Risen for Schools currently provides:

• Practice sessions — sets of theology questions grounded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Sacred Scripture, in multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, and matching formats, each with an explanation of the correct answer.
• Bellwork — a short daily reflection prompt that an Educator can use to open class.
• Daily cards — a saint of the week, a quote of the day, a verse of the day, and a common misconception of the day, prepared for each day of the school week.
• Educator views — class rosters and records of which Students have completed assigned work.

Descriptions of planned or future features, including in roadmaps, demonstrations, and marketing materials, are not commitments. A School is entitled to the Service as it exists during the term of its School Agreement, together with any features Risen adds during that term.

2.1 Content for and by Schools. In addition, Risen may prepare practice sessions, bellwork prompts, daily cards, or other materials tailored to a particular School (“Custom Content”), at the School’s request and in Risen’s discretion, on terms set out in the School Agreement. Educators may also author their own practice sessions, bellwork prompts, daily cards, and other materials within the Service (“School-Created Content”). The rights that apply to each are described in Section 6.

2.2 No Artificial Intelligence. The Service does not include any artificial-intelligence, machine-learning, chatbot, or automated question-answering feature. Practice session sequencing and Educator views are based on defined curriculum rules and a Student’s recorded activity.

2.3 Educational Tool Only. The Service is an educational and devotional tool that a School may use to support its catechetical and formation programs. The Service does not by itself constitute such a program and does not replace the School’s Educators, catechists, or clergy, whose professional and pastoral judgment it is intended to support rather than substitute for. The Service is not a substitute for participation in the sacraments, spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, mental-health care, or any professional service. Content in the Service is drawn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Sacred Scripture. It is not itself an act of the Church’s teaching authority and carries no ecclesiastical approval, and where it differs from the Catechism or Sacred Scripture, those govern. For matters of faith and morals, users should consult the Catechism, Sacred Scripture, and qualified clergy.

2.4 Student Wellbeing. If a Student shares something through the Service that raises a concern for that Student’s safety or wellbeing, the School and its Educators, not Risen, are responsible for responding in accordance with the School’s policies and applicable law. The Service is not monitored in real time and is not an emergency or crisis resource. If a Student is in danger, contact local emergency services immediately.

2.5 Changes to the Service. We are continually improving the Service and may add, modify, or remove features, content, or functionality at any time. We will use reasonable efforts to notify Schools of material changes that affect their use.

3. Accounts and Access

3.1 School-Provisioned Accounts. All accounts are created, approved, or authorized by a School. A Student account is created when the Student accepts an invitation link or enters a join code issued by the School, and the Student supplies their own account details. The School decides which Educators and Students may access the Service and may add, suspend, or remove users at any time. Risen relies on the School’s designation of users and their roles.

3.2 Account Security. You are responsible for keeping your log-in credentials confidential and for all activity under your account. Do not share credentials or use another person’s account. Notify your School and Risen promptly if you suspect unauthorized access.

3.3 Accurate Information. Schools and Educators must provide accurate account information, including a Student’s grade level or age band, so that we can apply age-appropriate settings. Do not provide more Student information than the Service requires.

3.4 Age Requirements. Students may use the Service only if the School has invited them and has obtained any parental notice or consent required by law. Risen does not knowingly collect personal information from a child under 13 except through a School that has provided consent on the parent’s behalf for educational purposes, as permitted under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). Risen does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 outside of a School relationship. If you believe a child has provided information to Risen outside of a School relationship, contact us at the email address in Section 15.

4. Student Information and Privacy

4.1 Privacy Policy. Our collection and use of personal information through the Service is described in the Risen for Schools Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms. The Privacy Policy is specific to Risen for Schools.

4.2 The School Controls Student Data. Student information collected through the Service (“Student Data”) belongs to the School and, as provided by law, to the Student and the Student’s parents or guardians. Risen processes Student Data only as a service provider to the School, to provide, maintain, secure, and improve the Service, and as the School directs. Risen does not own Student Data.

4.3 Statutory Limits. Consistent with the California Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (“SOPIPA”, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22584) and, to the extent they apply to a School, California Education Code § 49073.1, FERPA, and the CCPA, Risen does not sell Student Data, use it for targeted advertising, profile a Student for non-educational purposes, or disclose it except to service providers bound by confidentiality obligations, as the law requires, or as the School directs. Risen applies these protections to every School, whether or not a particular statute reaches it. Risen may use data that no longer identifies a Student or School for any purpose not prohibited by law.

4.4 What Is Collected. Risen collects only the Student Data reasonably necessary for the School’s educational purposes, with the School’s consent and consistent with Federal Trade Commission guidance on school-authorized collection under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The Privacy Policy describes what is collected, how long it is kept, and why. Risen does not collect Social Security numbers, payment-card data, biometric identifiers, or precise geolocation.

4.5 No Marketing to Students or Parents. Risen does not use Student Data, or Student or parent contact information obtained through the Service, to market anything to Students or their families, including Risen’s own products.

4.6 Security. Risen maintains reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect Student Data against unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure. The Privacy Policy describes these safeguards.

4.7 Security Incidents. If Risen becomes aware of unauthorized access to or disclosure of Student Data, Risen will notify the affected School without undue delay, tell the School what it knows, and cooperate with the School’s response and any notifications the School must make. Notification timing and process are described in the Privacy Policy or the School Agreement.

4.8 Legal Process. If Risen receives a subpoena, court order, or similar demand for Student Data, Risen will notify the School before responding unless the law prohibits it, so that the School may object or seek protection.

4.9 Parent and Student Rights. Parents, guardians, and eligible Students may review, correct, or request deletion of Student Data by contacting their School, which will coordinate with Risen. Risen responds to School requests in time for the School to meet its own legal deadlines.

4.10 Export and Deletion. A School may export its Student Data in a usable format at any time while its School Agreement is in effect. When a School Agreement ends, or when a School removes a Student or asks us to delete a Student’s information, Risen deletes or de-identifies the applicable Student Data within the period described in the Privacy Policy, consistent with Cal. Educ. Code § 49073.1(b)(6) where it applies, except as the law requires it to keep and except for routine backups deleted in the ordinary course. Schools should export any Student Data they wish to keep before their agreement ends.

4.11 De-Identified Data. Risen may use data that has been de-identified so that it cannot reasonably identify any Student or School to operate, evaluate, and improve the Service and to develop new features, and will not attempt to re-identify it.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree not to, and not to permit anyone else to:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable law or your School’s policies.
• Copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, sublicense, or create derivative works from any part of the Service or its content, except as expressly permitted in these Terms or a School Agreement.
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code, curriculum logic, or underlying structure of the Service.
• Use bots, scrapers, or other automated means to access the Service or extract content or data.
• Share log-in credentials, access another user’s account, or attempt to view Student Data you are not authorized to see.
• Upload or transmit content that is unlawful, harassing, hateful, obscene, or that infringes another person’s rights, or that contains viruses or malicious code.
• Interfere with the security, integrity, or performance of the Service or circumvent access controls, usage limits, or security measures.
• Use the Service, or information obtained from it, to build or benchmark a competing product.
• Bully, harass, or harm another Student or Educator through the Service.

Risen may investigate suspected violations and may suspend or terminate access as described in Section 9.

6. Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 Risen’s Content. The Service and all practice sessions, questions, explanations, bellwork prompts, daily cards, Scripture selections, answer keys, Educator views, designs, software, and other materials made available through it (“Risen Content”) are owned by Risen and are protected by copyright and other intellectual-property laws. Risen grants Schools, Educators, and Students a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use Risen Content solely for the School’s internal educational purposes during the term of the applicable School Agreement. All other rights are reserved.

6.2 Scripture and Catechism. Scripture texts are drawn from public-domain translations, with attribution provided in the Service. References to the Catechism of the Catholic Church are used for educational purposes; the Catechism is the intellectual property of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

6.3 School-Created Content and Student Work. When an Educator authors content within the Service, the tools, templates, interactive and adaptive features, sequencing, formatting, presentation, and every other software element that makes that content work in the Service are Risen Content and remain Risen’s. The School’s entitlement with respect to School-Created Content is the literal text its Educators wrote, which the School may keep and use during and after its School Agreement, and which it may export while that Agreement is in effect wherever the Service provides an export function, delivered as static, non-interactive text (a “Text Export”). A Text Export contains the words only; it does not include and does not grant any right to any functionality, interactivity, data structure, styling, or other part of the Service, and authoring content in the Service gives the School no rights in the Service itself. Students’ original assignment responses and similar work are Student Data and are handled under Section 4. You grant Risen a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, display, reproduce, and process School-Created Content and Student work to provide the Service to your School and to prepare Text Exports. Risen does not review or endorse School-Created Content; the School is responsible for its accuracy, appropriateness for Students, doctrinal content, and compliance with law and third-party rights. School-Created Content remaining in the Service is deleted with the School’s account when the School Agreement ends, so export any text you wish to keep before then.

6.4 Custom Content. Custom Content that Risen prepares for a School is Risen Content, owned by Risen and licensed to the School under Section 6.1. Risen has no obligation to prepare Custom Content and may charge for it only as agreed in writing with the School. Any materials the School provides to guide Custom Content are User Content, and the School is responsible for its right to provide them.

6.5 Exported Materials. Schools may export and retain static PDF or printed copies of assignments, quizzes, answer keys, and progress reports, PDF exports of Custom Content, and Text Exports of School-Created Content generated during their use of the Service, as provided in their School Agreement. Exported Risen Content and Custom Content may be kept for the School’s internal educational use only; Text Exports are governed by Section 6.3. Every export is words on a page: exported materials do not include, and do not grant any continuing right to, the Service, its software, or any interactive feature.

6.6 Feedback. If you provide suggestions or feedback about the Service, Risen may use it without restriction or compensation. Feedback should not include Student Data.

6.7 Trademarks. “Risen,” “Risen for Schools,” and associated logos are trademarks of Risen and may not be used without our prior written permission.

7. Fees, Pilots, and Subscriptions

7.1 Billing to Schools. The Service is licensed to Schools under a School Agreement. Fees, if any, are set out in that agreement and are invoiced to the School. There are no in-app purchases, and Educators and Students are never charged individually for the Service.

7.2 Pilots. Risen may offer a School a no-cost pilot for a defined period. A pilot does not renew automatically, creates no obligation on either party to continue, and ends on the date stated in the School Agreement. Continued use after a pilot requires a new written agreement and payment of the applicable subscription and/or initiation fees.

7.3 Subscriptions. Paid subscriptions renew, may be cancelled, and may change in price only as provided in the applicable School Agreement. Risen will give Schools reasonable advance notice of any price change before it takes effect.

7.4 Taxes. Fees exclude taxes. Schools are responsible for applicable sales, use, or similar taxes unless they provide a valid exemption certificate.

8. Third-Party Services

The Service relies on third-party providers for hosting, authentication, and similar infrastructure, each bound by written obligations to protect the data they process. The Service may also link to third-party websites or resources, such as external Scripture or Church resources. Risen does not control and is not responsible for third-party services, and your use of them is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.

9. Suspension and Termination

9.1 By the School. A School may end its use of the Service as provided in its School Agreement and may remove any Educator or Student at any time.

9.2 By Risen. Risen may suspend or terminate any account, or access to any part of the Service, at any time if we reasonably believe there has been a violation of these Terms, a security or safety risk, a legal requirement, or as permitted by the School Agreement. Where practical, we will notify the School and give an opportunity to address the issue. Risen may also discontinue the Service on reasonable notice to Schools.

9.3 Effect. When a School Agreement ends or an account is terminated, the license in Section 6.1 ends, access is disabled, and Student Data is handled as described in Section 4.10. Schools should export any materials they wish to keep before their agreement ends. Sections 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 survive termination.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SERVICE AND ALL RISEN CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. RISEN DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; THAT ANY PRACTICE SESSION, QUESTION, ANSWER KEY, OR OTHER CONTENT WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR THEOLOGICALLY OR DOCTRINALLY CORRECT; THAT THE SERVICE WILL ACHIEVE ANY EDUCATIONAL, DEVOTIONAL, OR OTHER OUTCOME; OR THAT DATA WILL NOT BE LOST. THE SERVICE IS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL AND DOES NOT REPLACE FORMAL CATECHESIS, PARTICIPATION IN THE SACRAMENTS, SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, PASTORAL CARE, COUNSELING, OR THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OF THE SCHOOL’S EDUCATORS. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS; IN THAT CASE THE EXCLUSIONS APPLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL RISEN OR ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AGENTS, LICENSORS, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS (THE “RISEN PARTIES”) BE LIABLE UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES; ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, PROFITS, OR REVENUE; ANY COST OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES; ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE CONTENT OF ANY PRACTICE SESSION, QUESTION, OR OTHER MATERIAL OR FROM ANY INSTRUCTIONAL, PASTORAL, DISCIPLINARY, OR SUPERVISORY DECISION MADE BY A SCHOOL OR EDUCATOR; OR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY STUDENT, EDUCATOR, PARENT, OR THIRD PARTY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE RISEN PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE FEES PAID BY THE APPLICABLE SCHOOL TO RISEN FOR THE SERVICE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS (US $100). THESE LIMITATIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL BASIS OF THE BARGAIN AND APPLY EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS LIMITS LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING UNDER CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 1668.

12. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, a School will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Risen Parties from any claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of the School’s or its Educators’ or Students’ use or misuse of the Service, violation of these Terms or applicable law, failure to obtain any required parental notice or consent, inaccurate user or age information, User Content, or any instructional, supervisory, disciplinary, or welfare decision regarding a Student. Individual Educators and Students are not required to indemnify Risen under this Section.

13. Governing Law and Disputes

13.1 Governing Law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules.

13.2 Resolving Disputes. Before filing any claim, you agree to contact Risen at the email address in Section 15 and to work with us in good faith for at least thirty (30) days to resolve the issue. Any dispute between Risen and a School that is not resolved informally will be settled by binding arbitration administered by JAMS in Orange County, California, before a single arbitrator, or as otherwise provided in the School Agreement. Either party may seek injunctive relief in the state or federal courts located in Orange County, California, to protect intellectual property or confidential information, and each party consents to the jurisdiction of those courts.

13.3 Individual Users. Disputes with individual Educators, Students, or parents will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Orange County, California, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. Nothing in these Terms limits any right a Student or parent has under FERPA, COPPA, SOPIPA, the CCPA, or other applicable law.

13.4 TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND AGREES THAT CLAIMS WILL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT IN ANY CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

14. General Terms

14.1 Changes to These Terms. We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms in the Service and update the “Last Updated” date, and will let Schools know of material changes by email or in-app notice. Continued use of the Service after the effective date of a change constitutes acceptance; if a School does not agree, it may end its use of the Service as provided in its School Agreement.

14.2 Entire Agreement. These Terms, the Risen for Schools Privacy Policy, and the applicable School Agreement are the entire agreement between you and Risen regarding the Service and supersede any prior agreements on that subject.

14.3 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without Risen’s written consent. Risen may assign these Terms to an affiliate or to a successor in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets; any successor will be bound by the student-data commitments in Section 4.

14.4 Force Majeure. Risen is not liable for any delay or failure caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, internet or infrastructure failures, third-party service outages, or governmental action.

14.5 Severability; Waiver. If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted and the remaining provisions will remain in effect. Risen’s failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.

14.6 Independent Parties; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Risen and each School are independent contractors. Any reference in these Terms or in Risen’s materials to a partnership, to partnering, or to a partner school describes the working relationship only and does not create a legal partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between Risen and a School. Except for the Risen Parties under Sections 10 through 12, there are no third-party beneficiaries of these Terms.

14.7 Electronic Communications. You consent to receive notices from Risen electronically, including by email to the address associated with your School or account and by notices posted in the Service.

15. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms, the Service, or a Student’s information may be directed to:

Risen
Email: contact@risenforschools.com

Parents and guardians with questions about their child’s information should contact their School first, which will coordinate with Risen. For requests relating to California privacy rights, please include “California Privacy Rights” in the subject line.

These Terms of Service are effective as of the date last updated above.