GradeSnap ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of teachers and the students whose work they upload. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information.
By using GradeSnap, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you are using GradeSnap on behalf of a school or district, you represent that you have the authority to accept this policy on the institution's behalf.
The short version: We collect only what we need to run the grading service. We never use student data to train AI models. Student work is yours — not ours.
1. Information We Collect
Teacher account information
When you create an account, we collect your name and email address. If you sign in via Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from Google's OAuth service. We do not collect your Google password.
Student information
Student data is provided by teachers, not collected directly from students. This may include:
- Student names and email addresses (as entered by the teacher or imported from Google Classroom)
- Class and grade level information
- Uploaded student work (photographs or scans of handwritten papers, PDFs)
- AI-generated grades and feedback associated with each student's submission
Usage and technical data
We collect standard server logs including IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and error reports. This data is used solely for operating and improving the service and is not linked to individual student records.
Payment information
If you subscribe to GradeSnap Pro, payment is processed by Stripe. We do not store your full credit card number — only the last four digits and expiration date for display purposes. Stripe's privacy policy governs payment data.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect solely to provide and improve the GradeSnap service:
- Authenticate your account and maintain your session
- Process uploaded student work and return AI-generated grades and feedback
- Sync with Google Classroom (if you connect it)
- Send transactional emails (account confirmation, grading complete notifications, receipts)
- Respond to support requests
- Detect and prevent abuse of the platform
We never use student data to train AI models. Uploaded student work is processed by Google Gemini solely to produce grades and feedback for that specific submission. It is not retained by Google for model training under our data processing agreement.
3. Data Storage and Security
All GradeSnap data is stored on Google Cloud Platform in the us-east1 region (South Carolina, USA). Data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 and in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher.
Access to production data is restricted to authorized GradeSnap engineers and is logged. We conduct periodic security reviews and follow industry-standard practices for vulnerability management.
4. Data Retention
- Uploaded scan images — automatically deleted 180 days after upload
- Grades and feedback records — retained as long as your account is active
- Account data — retained until you request deletion
- Server logs — retained for 90 days then purged
- Billing records — retained for 7 years as required by law
You can request deletion of all your data at any time from within the Settings page of your GradeSnap account. Account deletion removes all associated class, student, submission, and grade data within 30 days.
5. FERPA Compliance
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. GradeSnap operates as a "school official" under FERPA, meaning we process student data only to perform functions that the teacher or school would otherwise perform themselves — specifically, evaluating and grading student work.
Student data submitted to GradeSnap is used only for the educational purpose of grading and feedback. We do not share, sell, or disclose student education records to any third party except as required to operate the service (see Section 7).
6. COPPA
GradeSnap accounts are held by teachers, not students. Students do not create accounts or interact directly with GradeSnap. Student data is submitted by authorized teachers acting on behalf of their educational institution. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13.
If you believe a child under 13 has submitted information to GradeSnap without teacher authorization, please contact us at privacy@grade-snap.com and we will remove it promptly.
7. Third-Party Services
GradeSnap uses the following third-party services to operate. Each is subject to its own privacy policy:
- Google Cloud Platform — infrastructure, file storage, and database
- Firebase Authentication — secure sign-in and account management
- Google Gemini (Vertex AI) — AI grading engine. Student data submitted for grading is processed under Google's data processing terms, which prohibit use of the data for model training
- SendGrid — transactional email delivery (grading notifications, receipts)
- Stripe — payment processing for Pro subscriptions
We do not sell your data or student data to any third party. We do not use advertising networks or tracking pixels.
8. Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information or student data with third parties except:
- With service providers listed in Section 7, solely to operate GradeSnap
- When required by law, court order, or valid legal process
- To protect the rights, property, or safety of GradeSnap, our users, or the public
- In connection with a merger or acquisition, subject to the successor honoring this policy
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your account and associated data
- Export your data in a portable format
- Object to or restrict certain processing
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@grade-snap.com or use the data controls in your account Settings. We will respond within 30 days.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of GradeSnap after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
Questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data? Contact our privacy team:
Email: privacy@grade-snap.com
Mailing address: GradeSnap, privacy@grade-snap.com