1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing the North County Literacy Foundation ("NCLF," "Foundation," "we," "our") website at northcountyliteracyfoundation.org, enrolling in any NCLF program, volunteering, or making a financial contribution, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our website or services. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time; material changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of our services after modifications constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
2. Program Eligibility
NCLF adult literacy programs are available to individuals aged 18 and older who reside in San Diego County, California, and who either read below a high school equivalency level in English or are English language learners seeking to improve their English proficiency. There is no income verification requirement for program participation. Learners are not required to provide documentation of citizenship or immigration status. The Family Literacy program requires enrollment of at least one parent or legal guardian alongside their child (ages zero through eight). In limited circumstances, individuals under 18 may participate with a written referral from a recognized educational institution and parental consent. NCLF reserves the right to verify eligibility information and to prioritize enrollment for individuals with the greatest demonstrated need when program capacity is limited.
3. Program Participation Agreement
Learners enrolled in NCLF programs agree to the following participation expectations:
- Attendance: Learners are expected to maintain a minimum 80% attendance rate relative to their scheduled sessions. Consistent attendance is essential for measurable academic progress and is a requirement of our federal and state funding agreements. Learners who fall below 60% attendance for two consecutive months may be placed on a retention improvement plan or, if unresponsive to outreach, administratively withdrawn to make their seat available to waitlisted individuals.
- Makeup Sessions: Missed sessions may be made up within the same calendar week at an alternative time slot, subject to tutor and space availability. Learners should notify their tutor or program coordinator at least 24 hours in advance of an anticipated absence whenever possible.
- Assessment Participation: Learners agree to complete all required standardized assessments (TABE, CASAS) at intake, at regularly scheduled formative intervals (every six to eight weeks), and at annual summative milestones. Assessment data is used solely for instructional placement, progress monitoring, and aggregated program evaluation reporting.
- Materials Care: Learners receive instructional materials, take-home readers, and workbooks at no cost. Materials remain the property of NCLF and should be returned in reasonable condition upon program completion or withdrawal. Lost or damaged materials will not result in fees or penalties.
4. Code of Conduct
NCLF is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all participants, staff, and volunteers. All individuals present at NCLF facilities or participating in NCLF-sponsored activities agree to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the following standards:
- Treat all learners, tutors, staff, and visitors with dignity and respect regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or socioeconomic status.
- Refrain from any form of harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discriminatory behavior.
- Maintain the confidentiality of fellow learners' personal information, assessment results, and educational records.
- Do not use NCLF facilities, equipment, or contact lists for commercial solicitation, political campaigning, or proselytizing.
- Comply with all facility safety rules, including no weapons, no alcohol or controlled substances, and no smoking on premises.
Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in a verbal warning, a written warning, temporary suspension, or permanent dismissal from programs, depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior, at the discretion of the Executive Director.
5. Intellectual Property
All curriculum materials, training manuals, assessment instruments, digital resources, and website content created by or licensed to North County Literacy Foundation are the intellectual property of NCLF or its licensors. Learners and volunteers may use these materials solely for their participation in NCLF programs and may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit them without prior written authorization from the Executive Director. The NCLF name, logo, and visual identity are registered service marks and may not be used by third parties without express permission.
6. Limitation of Liability
North County Literacy Foundation provides educational services on a best-effort basis. While we employ evidence-based instructional methods and measure learner outcomes rigorously, we do not guarantee specific academic gains, assessment score improvements, GED/HiSET pass rates, employment outcomes, or any particular educational result. Individual learner progress depends on many factors including attendance consistency, practice outside of sessions, prior educational history, and individual learning differences. NCLF shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from participation in or inability to participate in our programs, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
7. Volunteer Terms
All volunteer tutors and support volunteers agree to the following terms as a condition of service:
- Complete the required 50-hour initial training program and 12 hours of annual continuing education.
- Submit to and pass a California Department of Justice live-scan fingerprint background check and tuberculosis screening at NCLF's expense prior to being matched with learners.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with learners at all times. Personal relationships, financial transactions, and off-site unsupervised meetings between tutors and learners are prohibited.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding learner personal information, assessment scores, and educational records, consistent with FERPA-aligned protections.
- Report any concerns about learner safety, welfare, or suspected abuse to the Program Director immediately.
8. Donation & Refund Policy
All monetary donations to North County Literacy Foundation are tax-deductible contributions to a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 82-4917305). Donation receipts are provided for all contributions of $25 or more. Recurring monthly donations may be canceled at any time by contacting the Development Office at (760) 555-0147 ext. 3 or development@northcountyliteracyfoundation.org. Refunds of donations are provided upon request within 30 days of the original transaction. Restricted gifts designated for specific programs or purposes will be used in accordance with the donor's stated intent; if a designated program is discontinued, the Foundation will contact the donor to discuss reallocation or refund.
9. Website Use
This website is provided for informational purposes and as a resource for prospective and current learners, volunteers, donors, and community partners. Users agree not to use automated systems (bots, scrapers, spiders) to access the website in a manner that could disable, overburden, or impair server functionality. The interactive tools on this site (Reading Level Self-Assessment, Tutoring Estimator) are provided for educational estimation purposes only and do not constitute formal diagnostic assessment. Actual program placement is determined through standardized in-person assessment at our facilities.
10. Governing Law
These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these terms or from participation in NCLF programs shall be resolved in the courts of San Diego County, California. Before initiating formal legal proceedings, all parties agree to participate in good-faith mediation through a mutually agreed-upon mediator.
11. Contact Information
For questions regarding these Terms of Service, please contact:
North County Literacy Foundation
Attn: Executive Director
1847 Oceanside Boulevard, Suite 305
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: (760) 555-0147
Email: legal@northcountyliteracyfoundation.org