Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using The Scholar's Ascent website (thescholarsascent.org), mobile applications, or any related services (collectively, the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you may not access or use the Platform.

The Scholar's Ascent ("TSA," "we," "us," or "our") is a registered DBA (doing business as) of Reminiscent Road Media LLC, a company based in Houston, Texas, United States.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a minor (a person under 18 years of age), you represent that you are the parent or legal guardian of that minor and agree to these Terms on their behalf.

2. Description of Service

The Scholar's Ascent is an educational platform designed for students in grades K-12 and beyond (college-level). The Platform provides:

• Structured video episodes and curriculum organized across four scholar stages (Seedling, Budding, Branching, and Soaring)
• Downloadable and interactive digital workbooks, planners, and study guides
• The Lexicon vocabulary-building tool
• A personalized student dashboard with progress tracking, badges, and digital portfolios
• A Parent/Educator Portal with role-specific resources and monitoring tools
• A referral program and gift subscription options

The Platform is intended to supplement, not replace, formal education. TSA does not grant academic credit, diplomas, or certifications.

3. Account Registration

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate and complete
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account independently. Accounts for children under 13 must be created and managed by a parent or legal guardian (see Section 10).

TSA reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account that we reasonably believe contains false or inaccurate information, or that violates these Terms.

4. Subscription Plans & Billing

4.1 Subscription Tiers

TSA offers three subscription tiers:

• Explorer (Free): Limited access to select episodes, basic dashboard features, and a preview of the Lexicon tool. No payment required.
• Scholar ($14.99/month or $149/year): Full individual access to all curriculum content, video episodes, downloadable workbooks and planners, the complete Lexicon tool, progress tracking, badges, and portfolio features.
• Family ($24.99/month or $249/year): Everything in the Scholar plan, plus the Parent/Educator Portal, support for multiple child profiles under one account, family challenges, and parent-specific resources and workshops.

Feature availability within each tier may change over time. We will provide notice of material changes to paid plan features.

4.2 Auto-Renewal

All paid subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle (monthly or annually) unless you cancel before the renewal date. You will be charged the then-current subscription rate at each renewal. We will attempt to notify you of any price increases before they take effect.

4.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Upon cancellation:

• Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period
• You will not be charged for subsequent billing periods
• Your account will revert to the Explorer (free) tier at the end of the paid period
• Any downloadable content you have already saved will remain accessible, but access to premium platform features will be restricted

4.4 Refund Policy

We do not provide refunds for partial billing periods. However, new subscribers who are not satisfied with the Platform may request a full refund within 7 days of their initial paid subscription purchase ("7-Day Satisfaction Guarantee"). To request a refund, contact us at info@thescholarsascent.org. The 7-day guarantee applies only to the first subscription payment and does not apply to renewals.

4.5 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. TSA does not directly store your full credit card or bank account information. By providing payment information, you represent that you are authorized to use the payment method and authorize TSA (via Stripe) to charge the applicable fees. All fees are stated in U.S. dollars.

4.6 Coupon Codes & Promotional Pricing

TSA may offer coupon codes or promotional pricing from time to time. Coupon codes are subject to the following conditions:

• Codes must be applied at the time of purchase and cannot be applied retroactively
• Codes may have expiration dates, usage limits, or eligibility restrictions
• Only one coupon code may be used per transaction unless otherwise stated
• TSA reserves the right to modify or discontinue any promotional offer at any time
• Promotional pricing applies only for the specified promotional period; standard pricing resumes upon renewal unless otherwise stated

4.7 Gift Subscriptions

TSA may offer gift subscriptions, allowing one user (the "Gifter") to purchase a subscription on behalf of another user (the "Recipient"). Gift subscription terms include:

• Gift subscriptions are prepaid for a fixed duration and do not auto-renew
• The Recipient must create or have an existing TSA account to redeem the gift
• Gift subscriptions are non-refundable once redeemed
• If the Recipient already has an active paid subscription, the gift period will be added to the end of their current billing cycle
• Gift subscriptions cannot be exchanged for cash or credit

5. User Conduct

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:

• Use the Platform for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Share your account credentials with others or allow others to access the Platform through your account (except for child profiles under a Family plan)
• Copy, reproduce, distribute, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of the Platform or its content without express written permission from TSA
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform, other user accounts, or computer systems or networks connected to the Platform
• Use any automated means (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access the Platform or collect data
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Harass, bully, intimidate, or threaten other users
• Post or share content that is defamatory, obscene, hateful, discriminatory, or otherwise objectionable
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Platform or the servers or networks used to make the Platform available

TSA reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who, in TSA's sole discretion, violates these provisions, including removing content, suspending or terminating accounts, and reporting violations to law enforcement authorities.

6. Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 TSA-Owned Content

All content on the Platform, including but not limited to curriculum materials, video episodes, workbooks, planners, study guides, the Lexicon tool, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of The Scholar's Ascent (Reminiscent Road Media LLC) or its licensors and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Limited License to Users

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, TSA grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Platform and its content for your personal, non-commercial educational purposes. This license does not include the right to:

• Redistribute, republish, or share paid content with non-subscribers
• Modify, adapt, or create derivative works from Platform content
• Use Platform content for any commercial purpose, including in a classroom setting, without a separate licensing agreement
• Download, copy, or record video content beyond what the Platform expressly permits

6.3 User-Owned Content

You retain full ownership of any original content you create and upload to the Platform, including portfolio items, reflections, and other personal work ("User Content"). By uploading User Content to the Platform, you grant TSA a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, store, and process your User Content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the Platform's features (such as displaying your portfolio on your dashboard). TSA will not sell, share, or use your User Content for marketing purposes without your express consent.

7. User-Generated Content

The Platform may allow you to submit, upload, or create content including but not limited to portfolio uploads, written reflections, quiz responses, journal entries, and badge submissions ("User-Generated Content"). You are solely responsible for all User-Generated Content you submit. By submitting User-Generated Content, you represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to submit the content
• The content does not infringe upon or violate the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of any third party
• The content does not contain any material that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable

TSA reserves the right (but has no obligation) to review, monitor, and remove User-Generated Content at our sole discretion if we believe it violates these Terms or is otherwise inappropriate.

8. Referral Program

TSA may offer a referral program that allows users to invite others to join the Platform via unique referral links. By participating in the referral program, you agree to the following:

• Referral links must be shared in a genuine, personal manner. Mass distribution, spam, posting on coupon aggregator sites, or any deceptive promotional methods are strictly prohibited.
• You may not use paid advertising to promote your referral link unless expressly authorized by TSA.
• Referral rewards (such as account credits, free subscription months, or other benefits) are granted at TSA's sole discretion and may be modified or discontinued at any time.
• Self-referrals (creating multiple accounts to claim referral rewards) are prohibited and may result in forfeiture of rewards and account termination.
• TSA reserves the right to revoke referral rewards and terminate accounts engaged in fraudulent or abusive referral activity.

9. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

10. Children Under 13 (COPPA Compliance)

The Scholar's Ascent is committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent.

• Children under 13 may only use the Platform through a parent- or guardian-managed account (such as a Family plan).
• Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their child's use of the Platform and for any content their child submits.
• If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at info@thescholarsascent.org so we can take appropriate action.
• We may require parental verification before granting a child under 13 access to certain features.

11. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT, MATERIALS, AND SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH IT ARE OFFERED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

TSA does not warrant that:

• The Platform will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
• The results obtained from using the Platform will be accurate or reliable
• Any defects in the Platform will be corrected

The educational content provided on the Platform is supplementary in nature and is intended to support, not replace, formal education, professional tutoring, or academic instruction. TSA makes no guarantees regarding specific academic outcomes, grades, or test scores. Individual results may vary based on effort, engagement, and other factors outside our control.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SCHOLAR'S ASCENT, REMINISCENT ROAD MEDIA LLC, OR THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH:

• Your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the Platform
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Platform
• Any content obtained from the Platform
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

IN NO EVENT SHALL TSA'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID TO TSA IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE LIABILITY, OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Scholar's Ascent, Reminiscent Road Media LLC, and their officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of and access to the Platform
• Your violation of any provision of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party right, including any intellectual property, privacy, or proprietary right
• Any User-Generated Content you submit through the Platform
• Any claim that your User-Generated Content caused damage to a third party

This indemnification obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the Platform.

14. Termination

TSA reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Platform at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, for conduct that TSA believes violates these Terms or is harmful to other users of the Platform, TSA, or third parties, or for any other reason in TSA's sole discretion.

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us at info@thescholarsascent.org or through your account settings. Upon account deletion:

• Your access to all paid features will cease immediately
• Your User-Generated Content may be permanently deleted from our systems after a reasonable retention period
• Any unused subscription time is forfeited and no refund will be issued (except as described in Section 4.4)
• Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will remain in effect, including but not limited to Sections 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal proceedings arising out of or relating to these Terms that are not subject to arbitration (as described in Section 16) shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

16. Dispute Resolution

16.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute resolution proceedings, you agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform informally by contacting us at info@thescholarsascent.org. We will attempt to resolve the dispute informally within sixty (60) days of receiving your notice.

16.2 Binding Arbitration

If the dispute is not resolved informally within sixty (60) days, either party may initiate binding arbitration. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, including the validity, interpretation, or breach thereof, shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered in Houston, Texas, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator, and the arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

16.3 Class Action Waiver

YOU AND TSA AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Unless both parties agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims or otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.

16.4 Exceptions

Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of a party's intellectual property rights.

17. Changes to Terms

TSA reserves the right to modify or update these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify registered users of material changes via email to the address associated with their account
• For significant changes, provide at least thirty (30) days' notice before the new terms take effect

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may cancel your subscription as described in Section 4.3.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms of Service, please contact us: