FREE READS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AGREEMENT
FREE READS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AGREEMENT: Please carefully read the following program requirements and restrictions for the Free Reads Program (the “Program Requirements”) before completing your Mentor Application. By completing this Program Requirements Agreement and signing this Program Requirements Agreement electronically, you acknowledge and agree to the Program Requirements below. You acknowledge and agree to the following:
Time commitment: Mentors must attend and be on time for weekly virtual mentoring sessions with their Free Reader for the duration of the program year (August - May). They must comply with the following attendance policy: Communicate any expected absences with 24 hours' notice or as soon as reasonably possible to their Program Coordinator, limit cancellations to 3 times per year for weekly mentors, and limit late arrivals (no more than 3 per year) and no-shows (no more than 2 per year). Mentors who exceed these cancellation limits may be asked to leave the program and/or may be denied application for the following year.
Age: Mentors must be 18 years or older to participate.
Technology: Mentors must have reliable access to the technology (i.e. internet connection and device that connects to Google) needed to complete the online mentor training and participate in the program.
Mentor onboarding process: All mentors must complete the following steps to participate:
- Complete a mentor application
- Pass a background check
- Complete our online on-demand training
- Confirm your availability and schedule prior to the program start date
Student Privacy, Safety, and Welfare: If selected as a mentor, you agree that:
- You will commit to protecting the privacy and safety of mentees who participate in Free Reads Mentoring Program, including not soliciting contact or personal information from a mentee (this includes home address, phone number, & email), not sharing personal or identifying information of a mentee, refraining from taking screenshots or recordings during a Google session, and following all social media guidelines provided by Free Reads. You will only use data accessed regarding student academic performance solely for instructional purposes within the context of Free Reads Mentoring Program.
- You will not contact, interact with, or otherwise communicate with any mentees outside of regular Free Reads sessions. You will not attempt to contact mentees (or their families) or communicate in any way outside of your scheduled Free Reads sessions. You will not share your personal contact information with your mentee, including but not limited to phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts.
- You will not solicit pictures, videos or images from mentees, nor will you share any pictures, videos, or images with mentees.
- You will not engage in any cyberbullying, harassment, or otherwise inappropriate behavior online or engage in illegal activities through any of the technologies utilized by Free Reads.
- You will immediately report any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child in Free Reads Mentoring Program to a Free Reads staff member immediately upon becoming aware of such a concern. Free Reads will escalate the issue appropriately to parent/guardians.
- In no event will Free Reads or its directors, officers or employees be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages, arising from, or directly or indirectly related to the Free Reads Mentoring Program or your use of any technology utilized by Free Reads to conduct the Program remotely (including, without limitation, damage, harm or loss to any persons, files, data, or hardware) whether in an action of contract, negligence, strict liability or otherwise, and by participating in the Read Ahead Mentoring Program or using any of the selected remote technologies, you hereby irrevocably release Free Reads from all the foregoing and waive any claims you may have relating to the foregoing. Free Reads will not be responsible for any online activity of Free Reads Mentoring Program mentors that is in violation of this Agreement and/or any other Free Reads policy.
-Policy on stakeholder communication and non solicitation: Mentors may not directly or indirectly solicit anyone affiliated with Free Reads (e.g. staff or families) for monetary or in-kind donations. Mentors may not communicate with Free Reads students and/or families outside of Free Reads program or events unless prior consent is grant by Free Reads. You will report to Free Reads staff if you are approached by any family members or students, outside of official Free Reads program or events.