Privacy Policy

I. Purpose 

The ED Council is committed to ensuring the confidentiality, privacy, and security of all data collected during official accreditation activities. This policy outlines the standards and procedures The ED Council follows to maintain the privacy and security of personal and institutional information, in compliance with applicable federal and local laws. 

II. Statement of Policy 

The ED Council will protect and securely maintain all data collected during accreditation activities. Data will be managed in accordance with industry-standard security practices and applicable laws. The Council employs robust information security practices to minimize risk and prevent data breaches. Stakeholders have the right to request the disposal of their data as permitted by law, and such requests will be honored according to established procedures. 

Data collected is used exclusively for accreditation decisions, institutional improvement, and compliance with regulatory obligations. 

III. Procedures

The ED Council staff shall implement and regularly update security and privacy procedures to ensure compliance with this policy. Detailed procedures can be requested from our administrative office. 

IV. Definitions

Accreditation Activity: All activities conducted by Council representatives concerning an institution’s accreditation status or procedures. 

Accreditation Materials: Documentation related to accreditation activities, including institutional submissions, evidence, reports, communications, and records. 

Council Representatives: Individuals serving or representing The ED Council, including evaluators, staff, and board members. 

Confidential Information: Any non-public data related to accreditation activities, institutions, or stakeholders. 

Personal Information: Information identifying individuals, such as names, contact details, financial identifiers, educational history, or government-issued identifiers. 

Records: Documents and data created or used by The ED Council in accreditation and business operations, stored electronically or physically. 

Third-Party Vendors: External organizations contracted by The ED Council, potentially given access to personal or institutional data for service provision. 

V. User Rights

Users have the right to access, correct, delete, or transfer their personal data held by The ED Council, subject to applicable laws. Requests should be directed to the contact information provided below. 

VI. Data Retention and Disposal

Data collected by The ED Council will be retained only as long as necessary to fulfill accreditation requirements, legal obligations, or business needs. Data will be securely disposed of or anonymized when no longer required. 

VII. Security Measures 

The ED Council employs industry-standard security measures including data encryption, access controls, secure data storage, and regular staff training to ensure data protection. 

VIII. Incident Response 

In the event of a data breach or security incident, The ED Council will promptly investigate, mitigate harm, notify affected individuals and relevant authorities as required by applicable laws, and take necessary actions to prevent recurrence. 

IX. Marketing Communications

By providing your contact information through our website or services, you consent to receive occasional marketing communications from The ED Council. These communications may include emails, SMS/text messages, or phone calls related to our services, updates, events, and educational opportunities. 

You can opt out at any time:

• Email: Click the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email.
• SMS: Reply “STOP” to any text message to opt out of future messages.
• Phone or Other Channels: Contact us directly at [insert contact email or phone number].

We value your privacy and will never sell or share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes. All communications will be relevant, respectful, and limited in frequency.

If you have any questions about how we use your information or how to manage your preferences, please contact us at [insert contact info]. 

X. Compliance and Legal Framework

This policy complies with relevant data protection laws including but not limited to GDPR, FERPA, and applicable Puerto Rico privacy regulations. 

XI. Contact Information

For privacy-related inquiries or concerns, please contact:

The ED Council
Email: privacy@theedcouncil.org