Effective Date: June 27, 2025
Last Updated: June 27, 2025

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how the Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (“Center for OBC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation, collects, uses, and protects information obtained from users of our website at https://obc.southerneducation.org/ (“Website”) and participants in our programs, events, and services.

Our commitment to privacy reflects our broader mission of transparency and accountability in educational contracting. This policy is designed to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage, or request deletion of your information.

Information We Collect

Automatically Collected Information

For each visitor to our Website, our web server automatically recognizes only the visitor’s domain name, but not the email address (where possible).  We automatically collect:

  • Domain name
  • Pages accessed or visited
  • Aggregate information on website usage

This automatically collected information is used to improve the content of our Website and is not shared with other organizations for any purpose. 

Information Shared by Site Visitors

We collect information volunteered by visitors, such as: 

  • Survey information and site registrations
  • Email addresses of those who communicate with us
  • Full names, postal addresses, and telephone numbers
  • Professional information related to your role, district, and interests in outcomes-based contracting
  • Event registration information
  • Communications content

This information is used to fulfill requests for information on Center for OBC programs, to mail publications, and in the work of the organization. This information is not shared with other organizations except where required by law. 

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

Providing and Improving Our Services

  • Delivering resources, toolkits, and research materials
  • Managing cohort participation and event registrations
  • Personalizing your experience on our Website
  • Analyzing usage patterns to improve our content and services
  • Developing new programs and resources

Communications

  • Sending newsletters and updates about outcomes-based contracting
  • Providing information about upcoming events and opportunities
  • Responding to your inquiries and requests
  • Sending administrative notifications about changes to our services or policies

Research and Analysis

  • Conducting research on educational procurement practices
  • Analyzing trends in outcomes-based contracting implementation
  • Creating aggregated or de-identified datasets for research purposes
  • Measuring the impact of our programs and resources

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not share your information with other organizations except where required by law. ³ Specifically:

Service Providers

  • We may work with trusted third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:
    • Website hosting and maintenance
    • Email and communication services
    • Event registration platforms
    • Analytics services
    • Survey and research tools

Educational Partners

  • With your consent, we may share information with school districts, providers, or other educational organizations participating in our programs
  • We may facilitate connections between districts and providers based on shared interests and needs

Legal Requirements

  • We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process
  • We may share information to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Center for OBC, our users, or others

Data Security

The Center for OBC has appropriate security measures in place in our physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information that we have collected from you at our site. 

These measures include:

  • Encryption of sensitive data
  • Secure server technologies
  • Regular security assessments
  • Employee training on data protection practices
  • Access controls and authentication procedures

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to implementing reasonable security practices.

Cookie Policy

The Center for OBC does not set any cookies directly on our website. 

Third-Party Platforms and Cookies

While we do not set cookies ourselves, please be aware that certain third-party platforms we link to or use may collect data or use tracking technologies, including cookies. These third parties include:

  • Google: When you interact with Google Forms, download Google-hosted documents, or when our site uses Google Analytics, Google may collect information according to their privacy policies.
  • Salesforce: Our customer relationship management system may use cookies to track interactions and improve user experience.
  • Social Media Platforms: Links to platforms such as LinkedIn may set cookies to track your interactions.
  • Video Platforms: Embedded videos from YouTube or other providers may use cookies to collect viewing data and preferences.

These third-party services may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, time spent on pages, and other tracking information according to their own privacy policies.

Managing Third-Party Cookies

You can manage third-party cookies through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to:

  • Delete specific cookies
  • Block cookies from specific websites
  • Block third-party cookies entirely
  • Clear all cookies when you close your browser

Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have a “Do Not Track” feature that signals to websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. Because there is not yet a common understanding of how to interpret these signals, our website does not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.

Updates to This Policy

As third-party services and technologies evolve, we may update this section of our privacy policy. We encourage you to periodically review this policy to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the information we collect.

Your Privacy Rights

For All Users

  • Access: Upon request, we provide site visitors with access to contact information (e.g., name, address, phone number) that we maintain about them. 
  • Correction: Upon request, we offer visitors the ability to have inaccuracies corrected in contact information, transaction information, and communications that the visitor has directed to our site. 
  • Opt-Out: If you do not want to receive email from us in the future, please let us know by sending us email, calling us, writing to us at the address below, or clicking unsubscribe on any electronic communication received from us. 

For California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Right to Know: Request details about the personal information we collect, use, and share
  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information we have collected
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: Receive equal service and pricing even if you exercise your privacy rights

For European Economic Area Residents (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

  • Data Portability: Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used format
  • Restriction of Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data
  • Objection to Processing: Object to our processing of your personal data
  • Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in the “Contact Us” section below.

Children’s Privacy

Our Website and services are not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete that information.

If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

From time to time, we may use information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice. If our information practices change at some time in the future, we will post the policy changes to our Website to notify you of these changes and provide you with the ability to opt out of these new uses. 

If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our Website periodically. If you feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, you may contact us at the addresses or phone number listed below. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting
at the Southern Education Foundation
101 Marietta Street, NW, 16th Floor (Suite 1650)
Atlanta, GA 30303
Email: obc@southerneducation.org
Phone: (404) 523-0001

Acknowledgment

By using our Website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.