Teachers are expected to keep communication with families on Outschool and may not share personal contact information with a parent, guardian, or learner except in the situations below. See Keep All Communication on Outschool.
If a situation is not listed here, do not share the information.
Rules that apply to every exception
Share information with the parent, never directly with the learner, regardless of the learner’s age.
Keep the request and any information you share with the family in the same Parent Conversations thread. When an exception allows you to send information to an institution or use a specific outside service, do so only as described below.
Share only what is needed for the stated purpose. Do not use an exception to promote unrelated classes, services, products, websites, or social media.
Outschool cannot verify or provide support for communication, purchases, shipping, or services that take place off the platform.
You may decline any of these requests unless you have already committed to providing the requested materials as part of an approved class.
1. Credentials and diplomas
When a parent asks to verify your qualifications, you may upload relevant teaching certificates, credentials, or diplomas through the Parent Conversations tab. No notice to Outschool is required.
Review the document before sharing it. You may redact unrelated information, such as a home address or student identification number, when doing so will not interfere with verification.
2. Letters of recommendation and references
At a parent’s request, you may write a recommendation, evaluation, or reference for their learner. You may include:
Your full professional name
The learner’s full name as provided by the parent
Professional contact information required by the recipient
A link to your Outschool teacher profile and the relevant class
Upload a copy of the letter to the parent through the Parent Conversations tab.
If an institution requires you to submit the letter directly, the parent may provide the recipient’s information and you may send it using your email. Send it only to the named institution or organization and do not use the contact information for another purpose.
3. Kits and class materials
If an approved class includes a kit or finished project that you will ship, the class listing must identify the exact contents. Include the cost of the materials and shipping in the class price. Items that are readily available elsewhere may not be sold as a kit.
You may request the parent's mailing address. Use the address only to complete the shipment, and do not retain or use it for another purpose.
If Outschool has separately approved an external kit purchase from your business, you may send the parent a direct link to the specific kit page. Do not direct the family to a general storefront, promote unrelated products or services, or collect information beyond what the purchase requires.
4. Gifts from families
A parent may offer to send you a thank-you gift, but you may not ask for or solicit gifts.
When a parent initiates the offer, you may share:
A mailing address
An anonymous registry wish list from a service such as Amazon or Etsy
Do not accept cash or treat a gift as payment for classes or services outside Outschool. Outschool does not facilitate or track gift delivery, and the family is responsible for any shipping arrangements.
Gifts and prizes for learners
You may offer prizes to learners for games, contests, or other class activities, but do not give families money or off-platform gift cards, such as Amazon or Target gift cards. Instead, you may issue a coupon toward one of your classes or purchase an Outschool gift card, send it to your own email, and share the redemption code with the parent.
Give any prize or gift to the parent through the Parent Conversations tab rather than discussing or sending it directly to the learner. This keeps the interaction transparent and helps maintain appropriate boundaries between teachers and learners.
5. Families whose learner has aged out of Outschool
Outschool is for learners ages 1–18. If a learner turns 19 while enrolled in a class and needs additional time to finish it, do not move the class off-platform. Ask the parent to contact Support. The Safety team will review whether an extension can be provided to complete the learner’s current educational needs.
After the learner has aged out and their Outschool enrollment with you has ended, the parent may ask through the Parent Conversations tab about continuing privately. You may choose to respond and share limited business contact information with the parent, such as a professional email address or a link to your business website.
Any resulting arrangement is independent of Outschool, and Outschool cannot intervene if a problem arises.