Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 5, 2026
Last Updated: September 5, 2026

The Alaska Private and Home Educators Association (“APHEA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when you visit or use aphea.org (the “Website”).

This Privacy Policy explains what information APHEA may collect, how we use it, when we may share it with service providers, and the choices available to you.

By using the Website, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

The information APHEA collects depends upon how you interact with the Website.

Information You Provide

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:

  • Create an account on the Website;
  • Register for an APHEA membership;
  • Purchase an APHEA membership or other product;
  • Register for an APHEA event;
  • Complete a contact or other Website form;
  • Subscribe to APHEA communications;
  • Request information;
  • Contact APHEA;
  • Participate in an APHEA program, promotion, survey, or activity; or
  • Otherwise communicate with APHEA.

Depending upon the interaction, information may include:

  • Name;
  • Email address;
  • Mailing address;
  • Billing address;
  • Shipping address, when applicable;
  • Telephone number;
  • Username;
  • Account information;
  • Membership information;
  • Event registration information;
  • Products or memberships purchased;
  • Transaction and order information; and
  • Other information you voluntarily submit.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by WordPress, our hosting provider, plugins, security tools, or other technologies used to operate the Website.

This may include:

  • IP address;
  • Browser type and version;
  • Operating system;
  • Device type;
  • Referring website;
  • Pages viewed;
  • Date and time of visits;
  • Approximate location derived from IP address;
  • Website activity;
  • Cookies and similar identifiers; and
  • Technical information necessary to operate, secure, and improve the Website.

2. How We Use Personal Information

APHEA may use personal information to:

  • Provide and administer APHEA memberships;
  • Process purchases and event registrations;
  • Provide products and services;
  • Provide access to members-only resources;
  • Communicate with members, customers, and supporters;
  • Respond to questions and requests;
  • Send requested newsletters and communications;
  • Send transactional and administrative communications;
  • Process payments;
  • Maintain accounting and organizational records;
  • Improve and maintain the Website;
  • Maintain Website security and functionality;
  • Prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized activity;
  • Conduct APHEA’s organizational activities; and
  • Comply with applicable legal obligations.

APHEA does not sell personal information to third parties.

3. WordPress

The APHEA Website is powered by WordPress.

WordPress stores information necessary to operate the Website and may store information associated with registered users, accounts, forms, and other Website functions.

If you create an account, information associated with that account may be stored in the Website’s WordPress database.

APHEA uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect information maintained through WordPress. However, no electronic storage system or transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

4. WooCommerce

APHEA uses WooCommerce to provide online shopping, membership purchases, event registrations, and related e-commerce functionality.

When you place an order, WooCommerce may collect and store information necessary to process the transaction, including:

  • Name;
  • Email address;
  • Billing address;
  • Shipping address, when applicable;
  • Telephone number;
  • Products or memberships purchased;
  • Order information; and
  • Information concerning the payment method used.

APHEA may use WooCommerce information to:

  • Process purchases;
  • Fulfill orders;
  • Establish and administer memberships;
  • Provide access to members-only resources;
  • Provide customer service;
  • Send transaction-related communications;
  • Process refunds;
  • Maintain accounting and business records; and
  • Comply with applicable legal obligations.

5. APHEA Memberships

APHEA offers membership options that may include North Star Membership and Northern Light Membership.

North Star Membership

North Star is APHEA’s free membership option.

When you register for a North Star Membership, APHEA may collect and retain information necessary to establish and administer your membership, including your name, email address, account information, membership status, and other information you voluntarily provide during registration.

North Star members may receive communications through Mailchimp relating to APHEA, homeschooling information, member resources, events, announcements, and other information associated with the North Star Membership.

Northern Light Membership

Northern Light is APHEA’s paid membership option.

When you purchase a Northern Light Membership, APHEA may collect and retain information necessary to process the purchase, establish and administer your membership, provide access to members-only resources, and communicate with you regarding your membership.

This may include:

  • Name;
  • Email address;
  • Account information;
  • Membership type;
  • Membership status;
  • Purchase date;
  • Renewal or expiration information; and
  • Related transaction information.

Membership Access

APHEA may use account and membership information to determine eligibility for access to members-only pages, resources, benefits, and other content.

Membership-related information may also be used to provide instructions or credentials necessary to access members-only resources.

6. Payment Processing and PayPal

APHEA uses WooCommerce PayPal Payments to facilitate payments through PayPal and payment methods supported by the PayPal integration.

Payment information is processed by PayPal and the applicable payment networks or financial institutions involved in the transaction.

APHEA does not intentionally store complete credit-card numbers or card security codes in its WordPress/WooCommerce database.

PayPal may receive information necessary to process payments, prevent fraud, provide payment services, manage disputes, and perform other services associated with a transaction.

PayPal’s own privacy practices govern information that PayPal collects and processes.

For additional information about how PayPal handles personal information, please review the:

PayPal Privacy Statement

7. Mailchimp and Mailchimp for WooCommerce

APHEA uses Mailchimp and the Mailchimp for WooCommerce integration to manage certain email communications and, where configured, synchronize information between WooCommerce and Mailchimp.

APHEA uses Mailchimp for communications associated with both North Star Membership and Northern Light Membership, as well as other APHEA communications.

Depending upon APHEA’s configuration, information synchronized with or stored by Mailchimp may include:

  • Name;
  • Email address;
  • Membership type;
  • Membership status;
  • Customer information;
  • Purchase history;
  • Products or memberships purchased;
  • Order information;
  • Membership-related tags or groups; and
  • Other information necessary for the email and e-commerce functions APHEA has enabled.

North Star Mailchimp Communications

When an individual registers for a North Star Membership, APHEA may add or update that individual’s information in its Mailchimp audience or applicable Mailchimp segment.

North Star members may then receive a Mailchimp email workflow designed for North Star members. This workflow may include a welcome email, information about APHEA, member resources, events, educational information, announcements, and other communications relevant to North Star members.

Northern Light Mailchimp Communications

When an individual purchases a Northern Light Membership, APHEA may add or update that individual’s information in its Mailchimp audience or applicable Mailchimp segment.

Northern Light members may then receive a Mailchimp email workflow designed for Northern Light members. This workflow may include a welcome email, information about accessing member resources, membership benefits, events, educational information, announcements, renewal-related information, and other communications relevant to Northern Light members.

Other APHEA Communications

APHEA may also use Mailchimp to send newsletters, homeschooling information, event announcements, promotional information, educational resources, organizational updates, and other communications to individuals who have subscribed or otherwise provided information for such communications.

Email Preferences and Unsubscribing

You may unsubscribe from APHEA marketing or informational email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in an email.

Unsubscribing from a particular Mailchimp communication or workflow does not necessarily remove you from all APHEA communications.

For example, APHEA may continue to send necessary transactional or administrative communications concerning an account, membership, purchase, event registration, or other service you have requested.

APHEA may also retain your basic information in order to honor your unsubscribe preference and prevent unwanted future marketing communications.

Mailchimp/Intuit Privacy Statement

Mailchimp is part of the Intuit family of companies. Intuit’s Global Privacy Statement describes how Intuit collects, uses, shares, and otherwise processes information through its services. Intuit’s statement also specifically addresses contact and purchase-history information associated with Mailchimp and information concerning interactions with email communications.

For additional information about Intuit’s privacy practices, please review:

Intuit Global Privacy Statement

8. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help a website remember information about your visit.

APHEA and its service providers may use cookies for purposes including:

  • Maintaining shopping-cart functionality;
  • Keeping users logged into accounts;
  • Maintaining Website security;
  • Remembering Website preferences;
  • Processing purchases;
  • Supporting membership functionality;
  • Improving Website performance;
  • Understanding Website usage; and
  • Supporting certain Website functions and services.

WooCommerce may use cookies necessary for shopping-cart, checkout, account, and related functionality.

You may be able to control or disable cookies through your web browser. Disabling certain cookies may interfere with account, shopping-cart, checkout, membership, or other Website functionality.

9. WPForms

APHEA uses WPForms Lite to provide contact forms and other forms on the Website.

Information submitted through an APHEA form may be stored in the Website’s WordPress database and may also be delivered to the APHEA email address configured for the applicable form.

Depending upon the form, information may include:

  • Name;
  • Email address;
  • Telephone number; and
  • The contents of the user’s message or submission.

APHEA uses information submitted through forms to respond to inquiries, provide requested information, administer activities, or otherwise fulfill the purpose for which the information was submitted.

10. Sugar Calendar

APHEA uses Sugar Calendar Lite to display and manage events on the Website.

Published event information may include dates, times, descriptions, locations, and other information APHEA chooses to publish.

If APHEA uses event-registration functionality, information submitted by a registrant may include information necessary to administer the event or registration.

The information collected through a particular event registration depends upon the fields and registration methods APHEA has configured.

11. EWWW Image Optimizer

APHEA uses EWWW Image Optimizer to optimize images used on the Website.

Image optimization may include compression, resizing, conversion to other image formats, and other techniques intended to improve Website performance.

Depending upon APHEA’s configuration, image optimization may occur locally on the Website or through EWWW’s optimization services.

APHEA uses image optimization primarily to improve Website performance and user experience.

12. WP-Optimize

APHEA uses WP-Optimize for Website performance, caching, database optimization, and related Website-maintenance functions.

These functions may involve processing information stored in the Website’s database or technical information associated with Website visitors.

APHEA uses WP-Optimize primarily to maintain Website performance, reliability, and efficiency.

13. UpdraftPlus

APHEA uses UpdraftPlus to create backups of the Website.

Depending upon its configuration, backups may contain copies of:

  • WordPress files;
  • Website databases;
  • WooCommerce customer and order information;
  • Membership information;
  • Form submissions;
  • Uploaded files;
  • Website content; and
  • Other information stored by the Website.

Depending upon APHEA’s configuration, backups may be stored with an external cloud or storage service.

Backup copies may be retained according to APHEA’s backup and retention settings.

14. PDF Poster

APHEA uses PDF Poster to display PDF documents on Website pages.

The PDFs displayed through the Website may contain APHEA publications, educational resources, forms, event materials, or other documents.

APHEA does not use PDF Poster to intentionally collect personal information from individuals merely because they view a PDF.

15. WooCommerce Tax

APHEA uses WooCommerce Tax to assist with tax-related calculations associated with WooCommerce purchases.

Tax calculations may require transaction-related information such as billing or shipping location, product information, and order totals.

The information processed depends upon the configuration of WooCommerce and the applicable tax services.

16. Genesis and Other Website Functionality Plugins

APHEA uses Genesis-related plugins, including Genesis Featured Page Extras and Genesis Responsive Slider.

APHEA also uses:

  • Forget About Shortcode Buttons;
  • Velvet Blues Update URLs; and
  • WooCommerce.com Update Manager.

These plugins primarily provide Website design, content-management, administrative, compatibility, or maintenance functionality.

They are not intended by APHEA to serve as primary tools for collecting personal information from Website visitors.

17. Information Sharing

APHEA may share personal information with service providers when necessary to operate the Website, process transactions, provide services, or fulfill a request.

Depending upon the services currently used by APHEA, these providers may include:

  • Website hosting providers;
  • WordPress-related service providers;
  • WooCommerce;
  • PayPal;
  • Mailchimp/Intuit;
  • EWWW Image Optimizer;
  • Backup and cloud-storage providers;
  • Email service providers;
  • Event-management providers;
  • Security and technical service providers; and
  • Other vendors necessary to operate the Website or APHEA’s organization.

These providers generally receive only the information reasonably necessary to provide their services.

APHEA may also disclose personal information:

  • When required by law;
  • In response to valid legal process;
  • To protect APHEA, its members, users, or others;
  • To investigate fraud, security issues, or unlawful activity;
  • In connection with a merger, reorganization, transfer of assets, or similar organizational transaction; or
  • With your consent or at your direction.

18. Information We Do Not Sell

APHEA does not sell personal information to third parties.

APHEA may, however, share or transmit information to service providers as described in this Privacy Policy when necessary to operate the Website, process transactions, provide services, communicate with members and subscribers, or fulfill other legitimate organizational purposes.

19. Children’s Privacy

The APHEA Website is intended primarily for parents, guardians, educators, adults, and families.

APHEA does not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 for the purpose of creating accounts, purchasing memberships, or subscribing to marketing communications without appropriate parental involvement or consent.

Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising minors’ use of the Website.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to APHEA without appropriate authorization, please contact APHEA.

20. Data Retention

APHEA retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention periods may differ depending upon the type of information.

For example:

  • Account and membership information may be retained while an account or membership is active and for a reasonable period afterward;
  • Transaction and financial records may be retained as necessary for accounting, tax, legal, and organizational purposes;
  • Form submissions may be retained as reasonably necessary to respond to inquiries or maintain organizational records;
  • Email subscription and membership information may be retained while necessary to administer membership and communication preferences;
  • Unsubscribe information may be retained as necessary to honor communication preferences;
  • Backup copies may remain available according to APHEA’s backup schedule; and
  • Technical and security records may be retained according to operational and security requirements.

When information is no longer reasonably necessary, APHEA may delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it.

WooCommerce provides settings that allow site administrators to establish retention periods for certain customer and order information.

21. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.

These may include the ability to:

  • Request information about personal information APHEA maintains about you;
  • Request access to certain personal information;
  • Request correction of inaccurate information;
  • Request deletion of certain personal information;
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based upon consent;
  • Unsubscribe from marketing communications; and
  • Ask questions about how APHEA uses your information.

Certain information may be retained when APHEA is required or permitted to retain it for legal, accounting, security, fraud-prevention, dispute-resolution, or other legitimate purposes.

Marketing Email

You may unsubscribe from APHEA marketing or informational emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link included in the email.

Account and Membership Information

Where available, you may update certain account information through your APHEA Website account.

Privacy Requests

To request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information, contact APHEA using the contact information below.

APHEA may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

22. Data Security

APHEA takes reasonable measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, or destruction.

These measures may include:

  • Secure Website connections;
  • Password protection;
  • Administrative access controls;
  • Software and plugin updates;
  • Backup procedures;
  • Website security measures; and
  • Limiting access to information to individuals who need it for legitimate organizational purposes.

No internet transmission, Website, database, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

23. Third-Party Websites and Links

The Website may contain links to third-party websites, including:

  • Curriculum providers;
  • Sponsors;
  • Convention vendors;
  • Homeschooling organizations;
  • Government agencies;
  • Educational organizations; and
  • Other third parties.

When you leave aphea.org and visit another website, that website’s privacy policy and terms govern your activity there.

APHEA is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites.

24. Social Media

APHEA may maintain accounts or pages on social-media platforms.

If you interact with APHEA through a social-media platform, that platform may collect information about your activity according to its own privacy policy.

APHEA does not control the privacy practices of social-media platforms.

25. International Visitors

APHEA is based in the United States and operates primarily for individuals and families in the United States, particularly Alaska.

If you access the Website from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other locations where APHEA or its service providers operate.

Privacy laws in those locations may differ from the laws of your home jurisdiction.

26. State Privacy Laws

Certain U.S. states provide residents with additional privacy rights.

APHEA will comply with applicable privacy laws to the extent those laws apply to APHEA and its activities.

If you believe you have a privacy right under applicable law that is not specifically addressed in this policy, please contact APHEA.

27. Changes to This Privacy Policy

APHEA may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Changes may be necessary when:

  • Website functionality changes;
  • New plugins or services are added;
  • Existing services are replaced;
  • Privacy laws change;
  • APHEA’s membership structure or practices change; or
  • Additional clarification is necessary.

The revised policy will be posted on this page, and the Last Updated date will be revised.

28. Contact APHEA

Questions, concerns, or privacy requests may be directed to:

Alaska Private and Home Educators Association (APHEA)

Website: aphea.org
Privacy Email: secretary@aphea.org
Mailing Address: 189 E. Nelson Ave. #179, Wasilla, AK 99654-6462

Please place “Privacy Request” in the subject line of an email concerning a privacy request.

End of Privacy Policy