Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

The Bus Buddy ("we," "us," or "our") is a school bus seating chart application available at thebusbuddy.com. The app is developed and operated by Michelle Minor.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at: privacy@thebusbuddy.com

2. What Information We Collect

We collect the minimum information needed to provide the service:

• Account information: Your email address and a hashed password, collected when you create an account.
• Seating chart data: Route names, driver names, bus numbers, school names, route numbers, and student entries you create — which may include student first names, grade level (K–12), and gender (M/F).
• Usage data: Basic app activity such as which tabs you use, stored only to improve the experience. We do not use third-party analytics trackers.
• Subscription data: If you upgrade to Pro or Enterprise, your payment is processed entirely by Stripe. We do not store credit card numbers or payment details.

We do not collect: student last names, student ID numbers, addresses, photos, behavioral records, academic grades, or any other information that would constitute a detailed education record under FERPA.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely to:

• Authenticate your account and keep your data secure
• Save and sync your seating charts across devices
• Process and manage your subscription through Stripe
• Respond to support requests you send us
• Send transactional emails (password resets, account confirmations)

We do not use your data or student data for advertising, profiling, machine learning training, or any purpose beyond operating the app.

4. How We Store and Protect Your Data

Your account and seating chart data is stored in Google Firebase Firestore, a cloud database with industry-standard encryption at rest and in transit (TLS/HTTPS).

Access controls are enforced at the database level — each user's data is locked to their authenticated account. No other user, including other drivers on the same Enterprise account unless explicitly granted access, can read or write your data.

Passwords are never stored in plain text. Authentication is handled by Firebase Authentication using bcrypt hashing.

5. FERPA Considerations

The Bus Buddy collects only student first names and grade levels — information that drivers already have access to through their district. We treat this data with the same seriousness as any student information.

Individual drivers who use the app on their own initiative, rather than as part of a district-mandated system, take personal responsibility for the student information they choose to enter.

6. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your data or student data to any third party. Period.

We use the following third-party services to operate the app:

• Google Firebase (authentication and database) — Firebase Privacy Policy
• Stripe (payment processing for Pro and Enterprise subscriptions) — Stripe Privacy Policy
• Google AdSense (ads shown on free accounts and the public website) — Google Privacy Policy
• Google Fonts (typography) — fonts are loaded from Google's CDN

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of users.

7. Advertising

Free accounts on The Bus Buddy display advertisements served by Google AdSense. These ads may use cookies and browsing data to show relevant ads. Google's ad personalization is governed by Google's own privacy policy.

Pro and Enterprise subscribers see no advertisements.

Student seating chart data is never used for ad targeting purposes.

8. Cookies and Local Storage

The Bus Buddy uses browser local storage (not traditional cookies) to:

• Keep you signed in between sessions via a secure authentication token
• Remember your light/dark theme preference
• Store your selected demo subscription tier

Google AdSense may set cookies for ad personalization. You can manage or opt out of ad personalization at adssettings.google.com.

9. Your Rights and Data Deletion

You have the right to:

• Access your data — everything you've entered is visible inside the app
• Correct your data — edit or clear any seat assignment at any time
• Delete your data — email us at privacy@thebusbuddy.com to request full account and data deletion. We will complete deletion within 30 days.
• Export your data — Pro and Enterprise users can export a CSV of all student assignments at any time from the List tab

10. Children's Privacy

The Bus Buddy is a tool for adult drivers and school staff — it is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. Student data entered into the app is entered by adult users, not by the students themselves.

If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, please contact us at privacy@thebusbuddy.com and we will delete the account promptly.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

For significant changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify active users by email.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact: