Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 1, 2026
Last Updated: September 1, 2026

Bright Start Child Care & Preschool (“Bright Start,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy of children and families. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit www.brightstartchildcare.net, submit a website form, or use a service linked from our website.

This policy applies to information collected through our public website. Information collected during enrollment or through systems provided to enrolled families may be governed by additional agreements, notices, and Bright Start policies.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide through a contact, tour, employment, or enrollment-interest form, including:

• Parent or guardian name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Mailing address, when requested
• Preferred method of contact
• Child’s name
• Child’s date of birth or age
• Program or classroom of interest
• Desired start date
• Questions or messages submitted to Bright Start
• Employment application information
• Other information you choose to provide

Please do not submit medical records, Social Security numbers, financial account information, or other highly sensitive information through a general website contact form.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically by our website platform, hosting provider, analytics services, or security tools. This information may include:

• Internet Protocol address
• Browser and device type
• Operating system
• Pages viewed
• Referring website
• Date and time of the visit
• General geographic location
• Website interactions and error information

We may use cookies and similar technologies to help the website function, remember preferences, protect forms from spam, understand website traffic, and improve the visitor experience.

How We Use Information

Bright Start may use collected information to:

• Respond to questions and requests
• Provide information about programs, tuition, availability, tours, and enrollment
• Contact families about their inquiries
• Schedule or confirm tours
• Process employment inquiries and applications
• Provide access to payment, parent-communication, or enrollment services
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website
• Measure website usage and performance
• Prevent spam, fraud, misuse, and security incidents
• Comply with legal, licensing, regulatory, and recordkeeping obligations
• Protect the safety and rights of Bright Start, our children, families, employees, and others

Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee enrollment, classroom availability, or acceptance into a Bright Start program.

Children’s Privacy

The Bright Start website is intended for parents, guardians, prospective employees, and other adults. It is not designed for children to submit information independently.

We do not knowingly request or collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the public website. Information about a child should be submitted only by the child’s parent, legal guardian, or another authorized adult.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information directly to us without appropriate adult involvement, please contact us so we can review and delete the information when appropriate.

How We Share Information

Bright Start does not sell or rent personal information.

We may share information with service providers that help us operate our website or provide requested services, such as:

• Website hosting and maintenance providers
• Form and email service providers
• Security, spam-prevention, and analytics providers
• Payment-processing services
• Parent communication or child care management platforms
• Employment application or background-screening providers
• Professional advisers, when reasonably necessary

These providers may process information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf or according to their own privacy policies when you choose to use an independently operated service.

We may also disclose information:

• When required by law, court order, subpoena, licensing authority, or government request
• To protect the safety, rights, or property of Bright Start or another person
• To investigate suspected fraud, misuse, or security concerns
• In connection with a sale, merger, financing, reorganization, or transfer involving Bright Start, subject to applicable law

Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may contain links to or embedded content from third-party services, including payment platforms, parent portals, maps, videos, calendars, social media sites, and employment services.

When you follow a link or interact with embedded content, the third party may collect information under its own privacy policy. Bright Start does not control the privacy or security practices of independently operated third-party services. We encourage you to review their policies before providing information.

Online Payments

Online payments may be processed through an independent payment provider. Bright Start does not intend to collect or store complete credit card or bank account information through its public website.

Payment information submitted through a third-party payment platform is handled according to that provider’s terms and privacy policy.

Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use essential cookies required for operation, security, accessibility, and form functionality. We may also use analytics tools to understand general website traffic and improve our content.

You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

Bright Start does not use website information to build advertising profiles of children.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Respond to an inquiry
• Manage enrollment or employment interest
• Maintain appropriate business records
• Meet legal, licensing, contractual, and regulatory requirements
• Resolve disputes
• Protect the security and integrity of our operations

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

Information Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, email transmission, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please use caution when deciding what information to send electronically.

Your Choices and Requests

You may contact Bright Start to:

• Ask what information you previously submitted through the website
• Correct inaccurate contact information
• Request deletion of information, subject to legal and recordkeeping obligations
• Ask questions about this Privacy Policy
• Request that we stop using your information for optional communications

To submit a request, contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity and authority before completing certain requests.

Email and Telephone Communications

When you provide an email address or telephone number, you authorize Bright Start to use that information to respond to your inquiry and communicate about the services you requested.

Bright Start will not use your contact information for unrelated marketing messages without an appropriate basis or consent. You may ask us to stop optional communications at any time.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our website, services, technology, or legal obligations change. The revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

Your continued use of the website after an update means that the revised policy will apply to information collected after its effective date.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or Bright Start’s handling of information, please contact:

Bright Start Child Care & Preschool
1800 Ridge Road
Homewood, IL 60430

Phone: 708-922-9000
Email: office@brightstartchildcare.net

Center Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.