Terms of Service

The terms and conditions governing your use of the EducationAnswers platform operated by BrightMeasure LLC.

Effective Date: January 15, 2026

These Terms of Service (the "Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and BrightMeasure LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ("BrightMeasure," "Company," "we," "us," or "our").

BrightMeasure operates the online platform EducationAnswers.org (the "Platform"), which provides tools, resources, and infrastructure to support knowledge exchange among educators, researchers, practitioners, and education stakeholders.

By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

1. Platform Overview

EducationAnswers provides an online platform that may include:

  • educational resource libraries,
  • community discussion forums,
  • expert profiles and directories,
  • AI-assisted informational tools,
  • and interaction formats that enable members to consult with verified experts.

The Platform functions as a technology and knowledge-exchange infrastructure.

BrightMeasure does not provide professional advice and does not control the content or professional services delivered by individual users.

2. User Accounts

To access certain features of the Platform, you may be required to create an account.

You agree to:

  • provide accurate and complete information,
  • maintain the security of your login credentials,
  • promptly update account information if it changes, and
  • notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

You are responsible for all activity occurring under your account.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Platform.

By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

4. Platform Interaction Formats

The Platform may provide structured interaction formats that allow Members to engage with Experts, including:

  • asynchronous written consultations (message consultations),
  • live video consultations,
  • scoping calls,
  • community discussions within the Education Exchange,
  • responses to opportunities, projects, collaborations, or job postings.

Experts independently determine whether to accept or decline any request.

BrightMeasure does not guarantee that Users will receive responses, engagements, or outcomes from platform interactions.

5. Payments and Subscriptions

Certain features of the Platform may require payment or subscription.

These may include:

  • subscription plans providing access to enhanced platform features, and
  • paid interaction formats such as message consultations or video consultations.

Payments are processed through Stripe or another third-party payment processor.

By purchasing a paid feature or interaction, you agree to the applicable payment processor's terms and policies.

For expert interactions processed through the Platform:

  • the Member pays the listed price for the interaction,
  • BrightMeasure retains a 10% transaction fee, and
  • the remaining amount is distributed to the Expert.

Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled prior to the renewal date.

BrightMeasure reserves the right to modify pricing or subscription structures upon reasonable notice.

Refunds may be granted at BrightMeasure's discretion consistent with applicable policies.

BrightMeasure is not responsible for payment reversals, fraud, or chargebacks permitted under payment processor rules.

6. Opportunities, Projects, and Off-Platform Engagements

Members may post opportunities, projects, collaborations, or job postings through the Platform.

Experts may respond to such postings and communicate with Members through the Platform.

If a Member and Expert independently agree to pursue a custom engagement outside the defined interaction formats available on the Platform, such engagement is solely between the Member and the Expert.

BrightMeasure:

  • is not a party to such agreements,
  • does not supervise or manage such engagements, and
  • does not guarantee performance or outcomes.

7. Independent Experts

Experts participating on the Platform do so as independent service providers.

BrightMeasure does not:

  • employ Experts,
  • supervise professional advice provided by Experts, or
  • control how Experts deliver services.

Experts are solely responsible for their professional services and any legal obligations associated with their activities.

Experts are subject to the Expert Terms of Service Addendum, which governs their participation on the Platform.

8. User Content

Users may post content on the Platform, including:

  • discussion posts,
  • comments,
  • questions,
  • resource contributions,
  • expert responses,
  • and other materials.

You retain ownership of the content you create.

By submitting content to the Platform, you grant BrightMeasure a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to: host, display, reproduce, index, distribute, and create derivative works for purposes of operating, improving, securing, and promoting the Platform.

Content may also be used in anonymized or aggregated form to improve platform functionality.

9. Artificial Intelligence Features

The Platform may include AI-assisted tools that analyze or summarize platform content.

AI-generated responses are provided for informational purposes only.

BrightMeasure does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated information.

Users should independently evaluate any information obtained through AI tools before relying on it.

10. Prohibited Conduct

Users agree not to:

  • misrepresent qualifications or credentials,
  • upload unlawful or harmful content,
  • harass or abuse other users,
  • violate intellectual property rights,
  • attempt to gain unauthorized access to platform systems,
  • scrape or copy platform data without authorization,
  • or use the Platform for unlawful purposes.

BrightMeasure reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules.

11. Confidentiality and Student Privacy

Users agree not to upload or disclose protected student information governed by FERPA or other applicable privacy laws.

If such information is inadvertently shared, it must be promptly reported.

12. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its software, systems, design, branding, trademarks, databases, and content compilations, is the exclusive property of BrightMeasure or its licensors.

Users may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or reverse engineer the Platform without permission.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform and all services are provided "as is" and "as available."

BrightMeasure makes no warranties regarding:

  • the accuracy of content,
  • the reliability of expert advice,
  • platform availability,
  • or outcomes from platform interactions.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, BrightMeasure disclaims all warranties, express or implied.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, BrightMeasure shall not be liable for: indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of the Platform.

BrightMeasure's total liability for any claim arising out of these Terms shall not exceed the amount paid by the user to BrightMeasure in the preceding twelve (12) months.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BrightMeasure from claims arising out of:

  • your use of the Platform,
  • your content,
  • your professional services,
  • or your violation of these Terms.

16. Termination

BrightMeasure may suspend or terminate user access to the Platform at any time for violations of these Terms or to protect platform integrity.

Users may terminate their accounts at any time.

Certain provisions of these Terms survive termination, including those related to intellectual property, liability limitations, and dispute resolution.

17. Arbitration and Class Action Waiver

Any dispute arising from these Terms or use of the Platform shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

Users waive the right to participate in class actions or class arbitrations.

Arbitration shall take place in Maryland, unless otherwise required by law.

18. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

19. Modifications

BrightMeasure may update these Terms from time to time.

Updated Terms will be posted on the Platform.

Continued use of the Platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with:

  • the Privacy Policy,
  • the Expert Terms of Service Addendum,
  • the Expert Hub policies, and
  • any additional policies incorporated by reference,

constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding use of the Platform.