Teachers are responsible for following Outschool’s Terms of Service, Teacher Addendum, Privacy Policy, User Policies, and Teacher Policies. This article explains how Outschool responds when those standards are not met.
Depending on the nature and severity of the concern, Outschool may provide guidance, record a policy action, restrict account activity, or remove a teacher from the platform.
Teachers removed for violating Outschool policies are not eligible to reapply.
How our two-track system works
We use two separate tracks, each with a three-count removal threshold. The two are counted independently — a Trust & Safety strike is never combined with a teacher policy incident.
Trust & Safety strikes address safety, privacy, security, and serious community concerns. Three strikes lead to removal.
Teacher policy incidents apply when a violation reflects a professional shortfall. Three incidents result in removal, and incidents expire one calendar year after issuance.
Where one behavior could be either, the potential risk to learners determines the track. For example, an informal teaching setup that looks unprofessional is an incident, while a setup that exposes a learner to an unsafe environment or prevents supervision is a strike.
| Trust & Safety strikes | Teacher policy incidents |
Used for | Safety, privacy, security, and serious community concerns | Professional, quality, listing, enrollment, and teaching concerns |
Before the first count | A lower-severity concern may receive an Educational Reminder | Not applicable |
At two active counts | Ineligible for promotion and badging | Ineligible for promotion and badging |
Removal threshold | 3 strikes | 3 active incidents |
Expiration | Do not expire | Expire 1 year after issuance |
In severe or repeated cases, Outschool may restrict or remove an educator without following the step-by-step process.
Track 1: Trust & Safety strikes
Lower-severity first concerns may receive an Educational Reminder, which does not count as a strike. More serious concerns may begin with Strike 1. Outschool may also issue a strike when a teacher does not correct a previously identified concern within the timeframe provided.
Examples of concerns that may result in a strike include, but are not limited to:
Respect and community well-being: disrespectful, discriminatory, or hateful language; bullying or harassment; profanity; sexual content; or presenting political or religious viewpoints in a way that violates Outschool’s neutrality. See Community Standards.
Classroom safety and security: failing to verify learners; not supervising breakout rooms or leaving learners unattended; teaching outside the Outschool-provided Zoom link or off-platform; sharing account credentials; or misusing the "Block" button. See Learner Safety & Privacy for Educators.
Privacy and learner data: sharing or encouraging the exchange of personal information; storing class content or recordings outside Outschool systems; or failing to meet mandatory reporting responsibilities.
Third-party tools: using tools not disclosed in the listing, or directing learners under 13 to non-COPPA-compliant tools.
Keeping activity on Outschool: directing families off-platform, or requesting payment or refunds outside Outschool.
If you believe a strike was issued in error, reply to your notice within 14 days providing new evidence, and our team will review it where appropriate.
Track 2: Teacher policy incidents
Incidents address the professional and quality standards teachers agree to. Two incidents make a teacher ineligible for promotion and badging, a third results in removal. Incidents fall off within one calendar year and may coincide with class unlisting.
Behaviors that lead to incidents include, but are not limited to:
Reliability: excessive missed classes or late starts; regularly failing to respond to families; high refund rates; or not communicating enrollment or schedule changes. See Enrollment Management Policies.
Class listings: inaccurate, sensational, or non-compliant listings; missing required disclosures; or making major changes without resubmitting for review. See Standards for Class Listings.
Class content: teaching outside your expertise; content not suitable for the stated age range; unique content or copyright violations; or failing to keep self-paced classes updated. See Class Content Policy.
Professionalism: an informal or distracting teaching environment; unprofessional communication; or being unprepared to cover the listed content.
Immediate removal or restriction
Certain violations are serious enough to bypass the three-count process entirely. To protect learners, families, educators, and the integrity of the platform, Outschool will immediately restrict or remove an educator for severe violations, regardless of whether they have prior strikes or incidents. These include, but are not limited to:
Learner safety risks: inappropriate contact with a learner or parent, sharing inappropriate materials, failing to report or remove adult participants from learner-only class spaces, or violating mandatory reporting responsibilities.
Identity, eligibility, or background-check issues: impersonation, falsified information, or failing to renew or pass a required background check.
Fraud or financial abuse: gaming referrals, abusing the Learning Experience Pledge, misusing coupons or financial assistance, falsifying enrollment, or creating fake accounts or reviews for financial gain.
Severe community violations: severely offensive, discriminatory, harassing, violent, lewd, or inebriated behavior.
Zero-tolerance content or conduct: violations involving weapons, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, pornographic material, or other prohibited content unrelated to approved class content.
Once removed for violating the Outschool Terms, an educator is not eligible to reapply.