Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Agreement

Welcome to Homeschool Hive (the "Platform"), owned and operated by The Hive Network, LLC ("Homeschool Hive," "we," "our," or "us"), a privately formed Florida limited liability company not created by, owned by, or acting on behalf of any Florida public agency. These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the Platform and constitute a binding legal agreement between you and Homeschool Hive.

By accessing or using our Platform, you agree to these Terms in their entirety.

2. Definitions

• "Platform" refers to the Homeschool Hive website and all related services, content, and functionality.
• "User" or "you" refers to any individual or entity that accesses or uses the Platform.
• "Group Organizer" refers to a user who creates and manages events or groups on the Platform.
• "Event" refers to any activity or gathering posted by a Group Organizer via the Platform.
• "Content" includes all text, images, data, videos, and other material submitted or accessed through the Platform.

Users must comply with all applicable laws and refrain from misuse of the Platform. Use of the Platform in violation of these Terms or any applicable law may result in suspension or termination of your account.

3. Description of Services

Homeschool Hive provides software-as-a-service ("SaaS") solutions that enable homeschool groups and families to organize, manage, and participate in homeschooling activities. Key features include event creation, RSVP management, waitlist management, family profile management, communications, group discovery, and payment processing.

Homeschool Hive explicitly affirms it does not accept delegation of any governmental decision-making function.

4. User Accounts

To access specific features, you must create an account. Account holders must be at least 18 years old or of legal age to enter binding agreements in their jurisdiction. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete account information.
• Maintain confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Notify Homeschool Hive immediately of unauthorized use or security breaches.

Homeschool Hive reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms or misuse.

Sunshine Law Disclaimer:

Meetings or events conducted via Homeschool Hive are private unless a public body independently determines that § 286.011, Fla. Stat. applies. In such cases, the public body—not Homeschool Hive—bears responsibility for complying with applicable notice and minutes requirements.

5. Privacy Policy Integration

Your use of Homeschool Hive is governed by our Privacy Policy, explicitly integrated herein, outlining how we handle your personal data. By using our services, you consent to all actions taken with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy.

6. Payments and Refunds

Homeschool Hive facilitates payments for events hosted on the Platform through Stripe Connect. Group Organizers are the merchant of record for all event-related payments. Homeschool Hive acts as a marketplace facilitator and is not the seller of event tickets, memberships, or other goods or services offered by Group Organizers. Homeschool Hive retains a platform service fee (currently 10%) on each transaction.

All payment transactions are subject to the terms and conditions of the respective payment provider. Group Organizers are solely responsible for the quality, safety, and delivery of their events and services. Users should direct service-related complaints to the Group Organizer first.

Refund eligibility is determined by the event organizer and governed by Homeschool Hive's Refund Policy, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Unless otherwise stated:

• Refunds may be available if cancellations occur prior to the event’s posted refund cutoff date.
• Platform fees may or may not be refundable depending on the event’s refund policy.
• Stripe’s processing fees are non-refundable under all circumstances. These are retained by the payment processor and are not returned to you or to Homeschool Hive.

By making any payment through the Platform, you agree to these payment terms and the Refund Policy.

7. Ownership and Licensing of User-Generated Content

Homeschool Hive retains ownership of the Platform and all associated intellectual property rights. Users retain ownership of their content but grant Homeschool Hive a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, adapt, and distribute user-generated content submitted to the Platform in connection with operating, promoting, and improving the Platform and its services.

This license terminates when you delete your content or account, except for content that has been shared with other users, groups, or third-party services prior to deletion. This license does not apply to children's health information or medical data, which is governed exclusively by our Privacy Policy.

Public Records Allocation:

Platform records are not considered "public records" unless a Florida public agency explicitly contracts with Homeschool Hive and delegates to it a specific record-keeping duty. In such cases, the public agency is responsible for handling all public record requests pursuant to § 119.011(12) and § 119.07, Fla. Stat.

8. Intellectual Property Protection

All Platform software, design, trademarks, logos, and underlying technologies are owned exclusively by Homeschool Hive. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited.

9. User Conduct

Users agree not to engage in:

• Fraud or misrepresentation
• Harassment or defamation
• Abuse or discrimination
• Unauthorized data scraping or harvesting
• Impersonation or platform disruption
• Unlawful solicitation

Government-Directed Content Removal:

Homeschool Hive will not remove user content solely at the request of a Florida governmental entity unless such removal is permitted under § 112.23, Fla. Stat.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Homeschool Hive, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and service providers from and against all claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising out of your use or misuse of the Platform, violation of these Terms, or infringement of third-party rights.

11. Limitation of Liability

Homeschool Hive’s liability shall not exceed the total amount paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim. Homeschool Hive is not liable for indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost profits, business interruption, or data loss.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Homeschool Hive does not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free operation.

13. Binding Arbitration and Class-Action Waiver

Before initiating arbitration, you agree to first contact us at support@homeschoolhive.co and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

If the dispute is not resolved informally, all disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Platform, or your use thereof shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in Lee County, Florida under the Consumer Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), with one neutral arbitrator. Homeschool Hive will pay all AAA filing, administration, and arbitrator fees for claims under $10,000, unless the arbitrator determines your claim is frivolous.

Small Claims Exception: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court in Lee County, Florida if the claim qualifies.

Opt-Out Right: You may opt out of this arbitration provision by sending written notice to support@homeschoolhive.co within 30 days of creating your account. If you opt out, disputes will be resolved in the courts of Lee County, Florida.

Class-Action Waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action. The arbitrator may award injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief.

14. Waiver of Jury Trial

By accepting these Terms, you waive the right to a trial by jury for all disputes arising under or related to this Agreement.

15. Right to Modify Terms

Homeschool Hive may update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. Material changes will be communicated to you via email or platform notice at least 14 days before they take effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Refund & Cancellation Policy, and any supplemental terms for specific features, constitute the entire agreement between you and Homeschool Hive. They supersede all prior agreements, communications, and representations. No waiver or modification shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties.

17. Force Majeure

Homeschool Hive shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, internet outages, war, strikes, governmental actions, or civil unrest.

18. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed, and the remainder shall remain in full force. Homeschool Hive’s failure to enforce any right does not constitute a waiver of that right.

19. Compliance with Laws

You agree to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws in connection with your use of the Platform. Homeschool Hive does not warrant that the Platform is appropriate for use outside the United States.

20. Copyright Complaints (DMCA Policy)

Designated Agent

In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512), Homeschool Hive has designated an agent to receive notifications of claimed copyright infringement:

Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice

If you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide our designated agent with a written notification containing the following:

• A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
• Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing, including the URL or other specific location on the Platform where the material is located
• Your address, telephone number, and email address
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
• A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf

Counter-Notification Procedure

If you believe that material you posted was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification, you may file a counter-notification with our designated agent containing:

• Your physical or electronic signature
• Identification of the material that has been removed or disabled and the location where it appeared before removal
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification
• Your name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division, and that you will accept service of process from the person who provided the original notification

Upon receipt of a valid counter-notification, Homeschool Hive will promptly provide the original complainant with a copy and inform them that the removed material may be restored in 10-14 business days. Unless the copyright owner files a court action against the content provider, the removed material may be restored.

Repeat Infringer Policy

In accordance with the DMCA and other applicable law, Homeschool Hive has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances and at our sole discretion, users who are deemed to be repeat infringers. We may also limit access to the Platform or terminate the accounts of any users who infringe any intellectual property rights of others, whether or not there is any repeat infringement.

21. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact:

The Hive Network, LLC
Email: support@homeschoolhive.co
Jurisdiction: Lee County, Florida, USA

22. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or related to these Terms or the Platform shall be instituted exclusively in the courts located in Lee County, Florida.

23. No Agency

Nothing in these Terms shall be construed to create a joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship between you and Homeschool Hive. Neither party has authority to bind the other in any respect.

24. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without prior written consent from Homeschool Hive. We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms at our discretion and without restriction.

25. Survival

Any provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall so survive, including but not limited to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

26. Age Restrictions

Account registration is restricted to individuals who are at least 18 years of age or of legal age to enter binding agreements in their jurisdiction. Children do not create their own accounts. Parents and legal guardians may create and manage profiles on behalf of their minor children as part of their family account.

The Platform is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children. All information about children is provided by their parent or legal guardian through the family profile feature. Health information for children under 13 requires verifiable parental consent via email verification in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). For more details, see Section 9 of our Privacy Policy.

27. Acceptable Use

Homeschool Hive may suspend or terminate accounts for behavior deemed abusive, excessive, or misaligned with community values, even if not explicitly illegal. This includes circumventing rate limits, exploiting platform bugs, or attempting to reverse-engineer the service.

28. Business Continuity & Data Portability

In the event of a platform shutdown, Homeschool Hive will make reasonable efforts to provide advance notice and allow users to export their personal data or event participation history.

29. Data Use & Aggregation

Homeschool Hive may use de-identified or aggregated data to improve services, conduct platform research, or generate insights. Such data cannot be used to identify any individual and is not considered personal information under this policy.

30. Government Access

Unless compelled by law, Homeschool Hive does not share user content or communication logs with governmental agencies or third parties. Where required, we will notify the affected user unless legally prohibited from doing so.

31. Annual Review

Homeschool Hive commits to reviewing these Terms & Conditions at least annually to ensure continued transparency, fairness, and legal compliance.

32. Audit Rights

Homeschool Hive reserves the right to audit user compliance with these Terms, including but not limited to security practices, data handling procedures, and organizational use of the Platform, upon reasonable notice.

33. International Use and Export Compliance

Homeschool Hive makes no representation that the Platform is appropriate or available for use in locations outside the United States. You are responsible for compliance with all local laws and regulations, including U.S. export control laws and sanctions regulations.

34. API Access

Access to any Homeschool Hive API is subject to separate terms and technical limitations. Abuse of the API or circumvention of rate limits may result in immediate suspension.

35. Beta Features

From time to time, Homeschool Hive may offer preview or beta features. These features are provided “as-is” with no warranties and may be discontinued at any time without notice.

36. Feedback and Suggestions

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas submitted to Homeschool Hive shall be considered non-confidential and may be used, implemented, or commercialized by Homeschool Hive without obligation or attribution.

37. Data Security Incidents

In the event of a data breach involving your personal information, Homeschool Hive will notify affected users within 30 days of discovering the breach, in accordance with Florida Statutes Section 501.171 and other applicable state and federal laws. We will also notify applicable state attorneys general as required by law.

Where legally required based on the nature of the data compromised, we will provide credit monitoring or identity protection services at no cost to affected users. We will describe the types of information involved and the steps taken to investigate and remediate the incident.

38. Educational Records Disclaimer (FERPA)

Homeschool Hive is not an educational agency or institution as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g). The Platform does not maintain "education records" as defined by FERPA. Information provided by parents about their children's educational needs and preferences is stored as part of family profile data and is governed by our Privacy Policy, not FERPA.

39. Group Organizer Data Obligations

Group Organizers who receive personal data about families and children through the Platform (including health and medical information shared during event registration) agree to:

• Use such data only for the purpose of managing group activities, events, and ensuring participant safety
• Not share personal data with unauthorized third parties
• Delete or return member data upon request or when a member leaves the group
• Implement reasonable security measures to protect member data
• Notify Homeschool Hive promptly of any data security incident involving member data

Failure to comply with these obligations may result in suspension or termination of the Group Organizer's account and access to the Platform.

40. Automatic Renewal Disclosures

Certain services on the Platform, including group membership subscriptions, may automatically renew at the end of each billing period. Before your initial purchase, the renewal terms (including price and billing frequency) will be clearly disclosed to you, and your affirmative consent will be required.

We will send you a reminder email at least 7 days before each renewal, including the renewal price, date, and instructions for cancellation. You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellations take effect at the end of the current billing period.

41. Incorporated Policies

These Terms incorporate by reference all other platform policies, including:

• Privacy Policy
• Refund Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Data Deletion Policy

These policies form part of the legally binding agreement between you and Homeschool Hive.