Youth Safety & Protection Policy

Introduction

Technovation Texas, supported by IntellorAI, is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all youth participating in our programs. This policy outlines the standards, procedures, and safeguards we uphold to protect minors during online and in-person program activities.

Our practices align with:

• Technovation’s global Youth Safety Guidelines 
• COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) 
• Texas child safety and reporting requirements 
• Best practices for youth-serving educational programs 

Our Commitment to Youth Safety

We prioritize:

• The physical, emotional, and digital safety of all students 
• Respectful, inclusive interactions 
• Proper training and oversight for all mentors and volunteers 
• Transparent communication with families 
• Responsible handling of youth data and personal information 

Youth safety is the shared responsibility of staff, volunteers, mentors, parents, and community partners.

Required Background Checks

All adults who directly support or interact with students must complete a background check through Technovation’s global safety process.

This includes:

• Mentors 
• Technical advisors 
• Workshop facilitators 
• School or community liaisons 
• Any volunteer with sustained contact with minors 

Intellorai and Technovation Texas do not accept external background checks.
All screening must be processed through Technovation.

Code of Conduct for Adults

All mentors, volunteers, and staff must:

• Treat youth with respect and professionalism 
• Maintain appropriate boundaries 
• Avoid one-on-one private communication with minors 
• Use only approved communication channels 
• Refrain from sharing personal contact information 
• Report any safety concerns immediately 

Prohibited behaviors include:

• Harassment or bullying 
• Discrimination or exclusion 
• Inappropriate language or content 
• Private, unmonitored chats with minors 
• Physical contact of any kind during in-person events 

Approved Communication Channels

To protect minors:

• All communication between adults and students must take place in monitored, transparent program channels (e.g., Google Classroom, email with parent copied, or approved platforms). 
• Direct messaging, private texting, or social media communication with minors is strictly prohibited. 
• All virtual sessions must include at least two adults and be recorded for the safety of all participating. 

Online Safety & Virtual Sessions

For virtual learning environments:

• Students must join sessions through secure, approved links 
• Waiting rooms are used to prevent unauthorized access 
• Cameras are optional and students may choose audio-only participation 
• Screen sharing is monitored to prevent inappropriate content 
• Chat features are supervised 
• Parents and guardians are encouraged to be present or nearby 

In-Person Events & Workshops

To ensure physical safety:

• Events are held in accessible, public, or supervised spaces 
• Two-adult rule is required 
• Sign-in/out procedures are enforced 
• Students may not be left unattended 
• Emergency contacts must be provided 
• Staff and volunteers must follow venue safety guidelines 

Reporting Procedures

Any concerns involving youth safety must be reported immediately.

You may report to:

• Youth Safety Officer: safety@technovationtexas.com 
• Technovation Global Safety Team: safety@technovation.org 
• Local authorities (in cases of suspected abuse, threat, or endangerment) 

All reports are taken seriously and reviewed promptly.

Parent & Guardian Involvement

We encourage active family participation. Parents/guardians may:

• Attend virtual sessions 
• Participate in onboarding meetings 
• Request information about communication or mentor assignments 
• Review their child’s submitted materials 
• Opt out of activities at any time 

Youth Data Protection

We follow strict privacy and data protection policies:

• Minimal collection of student data 
• Parent/guardian consent is required for participation 
• Personal data is not shared beyond Technovation or approved tools 
• Student work (apps, videos, documents) is only shared when necessary for program submission 
• No student data is used for marketing or sold to third parties 

Youth Code of Conduct (For Students)

To maintain a safe, respectful, and empowering environment, all participating students are expected to follow the Technovation Texas Youth Code of Conduct.

Student Expectations

Students must:

• Treat peers, mentors, and volunteers with respect.

• Use appropriate, kind, and inclusive language.

• Participate in activities with honesty and integrity.

• Follow instructions from mentors, facilitators, and staff.

• Use technology safely and responsibly.

• Respect the privacy of others and protect personal information.

• Report any behavior that feels unsafe, inappropriate, or uncomfortable.

Prohibited Student Behaviors

Students must not:

• Engage in bullying, harassment, or exclusion of any kind.

• Share inappropriate, harmful, or disruptive content.

• Use offensive language or make discriminatory comments.

• Attempt to contact mentors or volunteers outside approved channels.

• Share personal information about themselves or others online.

Students who violate the Code of Conduct may be removed from sessions or the program following review by staff and, if needed, Technovation Global.

Volunteer & Mentor Code of Conduct

All mentors and volunteers play a critical role in shaping a safe and supportive environment.
They are required to uphold the following standards:

Expectations for Mentors & Volunteers

• Act as positive role models at all times.

• Communicate in clear, age-appropriate, and respectful ways.

• Maintain professional boundaries and avoid personal relationships with minors.

• Use only approved communication platforms for all interactions.

• Ensure two-adult presence or transparency in virtual and in-person settings.

• Keep all student information private and secure.

• Participate in required training, including youth safety requirements.

• Report all safety concerns immediately to the Youth Safety Officer.

Prohibited Behaviors for Mentors & Volunteers

Mentors and volunteers must not:

• Engage in one-on-one private communication with minors (unmonitored).

• Share personal phone numbers, social media accounts, or private emails.

• Use inappropriate, suggestive, discriminatory, or harmful language.

• Request or share personal student information beyond what is required.

• Offer or accept gifts from students.

• Engage in physical contact with minors, including during in-person events.

Violation of these standards may result in immediate removal from the program and notification to Technovation Global.

Policy Review & Updates

This Youth Safety & Protection Policy will be reviewed regularly to maintain compliance with Technovation requirements, legal standards, and best practices for youth-serving programs.

Updates will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date.

This policy reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the well-being and dignity of every student who participates in Technovation Texas.

AI Governance & Responsible Use Policy

Introduction

Technovation Texas, supported by Intellorai, is committed to the safe, transparent, and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in all aspects of our program delivery, website operation, and educational experiences. This policy outlines how we use AI, the safeguards we maintain, and the expectations we uphold to protect students, families, mentors, volunteers, and partners.

Our Commitment to Responsible AI

We follow responsible AI principles inspired by leading global standards and ethical frameworks. Our goals are to:

• Ensure AI usage supports learning, safety, and community well-being.
• Promote transparency in how AI tools are used.
• Protect the rights, privacy, and dignity of all users.
• Avoid harmful, biased, or unsafe AI applications.
• Educate youth on ethical and responsible AI development.

Where AI Is Used

AI may be used in the following areas:

• Educational Support: Providing AI-driven learning tools or examples that help students understand app development, machine learning, or design thinking.
• Website Interaction: Automated systems may assist with navigation, program information, or accessibility support.
• Program Communication: AI tools may help generate content for outreach, clarity, or translation.
• Operational Efficiency: Internal tools may automate administrative tasks such as form processing, scheduling, or data organization.

We do not use AI to make automated decisions that affect participant eligibility, safety clearance, or program standing.

Data Privacy & AI Usage

When AI tools process data, we follow these principles:

• No AI model is given access to sensitive personal information unless necessary and with proper safeguards.
• No AI system collects, stores, or sells personal data beyond what is required for program operations.
• Children’s data is never used to train AI models.

We align our data-handling practices with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

Youth Safety & Ethical AI Education

Because Technovation Texas works with minors, we hold ourselves to heightened youth-safety standards:

• AI tools used for learning are age-appropriate and vetted for safety.
• Students learn about responsible AI practices, including bias, fairness, inclusivity, and ethical development.
• No direct student communication is conducted via unmonitored AI systems.

AI Transparency

We strive to maintain transparency in how AI is used across our platform:

• When AI assists with content or communication, it will be disclosed when appropriate.
• Educational AI features are clearly labeled.
• Third-party AI tools used within our website or virtual environment are reviewed for compliance with safety and privacy standards.

AI Limitations & User Responsibilities

Users acknowledge that:

• AI-generated content may occasionally contain errors or outdated information.
• AI systems should not be used as the sole source for academic, legal, financial, or safety decisions.
• Users should report any incorrect or inappropriate AI-generated behavior to our support team.

Third‑Party AI Tools

Our program may integrate AI tools such as:

• Chat-based assistants
• AI-supported code analysis tools
• Automated translation or accessibility tools
• No‑code or low‑code AI builders used in student learning

Each tool is evaluated for:

• Security
• Youth safety
• Accessibility
• Data-handling practices
• Age-appropriateness

Reporting Concerns

We encourage all users to report concerns related to AI usage, safety, or accuracy.
Email: ai-governance@technovationtexas.com

Policy Review & Updates

This AI Governance & Responsible Use Policy will be reviewed regularly to:

• Ensure ethical alignment with evolving AI standards
• Maintain youth safety and data protection
• Improve transparency and clarity

Updates will be posted on this page and reflected with a revised “Last Updated” date.

This document reflects our commitment to responsible AI use in support of safe, equitable, and inspiring STEM learning across Texas.

Accessibility Policy

Commitment to Accessibility

Technovation Texas, supported by Intellorai, is committed to ensuring that our website and online materials are accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. We aim to follow best practices, recognized guidelines, and relevant accessibility standards to provide an inclusive online experience.

Our Accessibility Standards

We strive to meet the requirements of:

• WCAG 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

• Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) where applicable

• Section 508 compliance principles

Our goal is to make all website content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.

Measures We Take

To ensure accessibility, we:

• Use a website platform/theme designed with accessibility features

• Provide alt text for images wherever possible

• Maintain consistent navigation and structure

• Use readable fonts and sufficient color contrast

• Provide keyboard-accessible menus and links

• Support screen readers and assistive technologies

• Review content structure for clarity and hierarchy

• Test pages periodically for accessibility barriers

User Feedback & Support

We welcome feedback from users who experience accessibility challenges. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

Email: accessibility@technovationtexas.com

We will review all requests and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing effort. As we grow, we will continue refining our website, updating content, and improving tools to ensure an inclusive digital experience. We also commit to periodic reviews of this policy and our accessibility measures.

Third-Party Tools & Integrations

Some parts of our site may rely on third-party tools—for example, embedded videos, forms, or external resources. While we strive to ensure accessibility across all content, we cannot guarantee full accessibility compliance for third-party services. We will make reasonable efforts to provide alternative access when possible.

Commitment to Inclusive Community Engagement

Beyond the website, Technovation Texas is dedicated to inclusive program delivery. We aim to ensure workshops, events, and virtual sessions are accessible and welcoming to participants of all abilities. Wherever possible, we will provide accommodations upon request.

If you need specific accommodations, please contact us at accessibility@technovationtexas.com prior to your program participation.

This Accessibility Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure continued alignment with accessibility standards and our commitment to equitable access.

PRIVACY POLICY

Who we are

Our website address is: https://technovationtexas.com

Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, the visitor’s IP address, and browser user agent string to help with spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to determine whether you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Media

If you upload images to the website, avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors to the site can download and extract location data from images.

Cookies

If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies for convenience. These cookies last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we set a temporary cookie to determine whether your browser accepts cookies. It contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, several cookies are created to save your login information and display preferences. Login cookies last for two days; screen options cookies last for a year. Selecting “Remember Me” extends login persistence to two weeks.

If you log out, login cookies are removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie is stored in your browser. It contains no personal data—only the post ID of the edited article—and expires after one day.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles). Embedded content from other websites behaves exactly as if the visitor accessed the external website directly.

These websites may collect data, use cookies, embed third‑party tracking, and monitor your interaction with embedded content, including interactions if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

Who we share your data with

We may share your data with the following service providers and program partners to operate and improve our website, support program delivery, and fulfill required program functions:

• Technovation (Global Nonprofit Organization): As part of the Technovation Girls program, certain information you submit through program interest forms, mentor applications, or student onboarding may be shared with Technovation to facilitate registration, youth‑safety verification, mentor onboarding, and participation in the global program.
• Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This includes anonymized visitor behavior data such as page views, browser type, device type, and geographic region. Google Analytics does not receive personally identifiable information unless explicitly provided.
• Program Implementation Tools: We may use trusted third‑party services to support program operations, such as email communication tools, scheduling systems, form builders, virtual meeting platforms, and document management services. These tools may receive limited data necessary to operate their functions.
• Spam Detection Services: Visitor comments and form submissions may be checked through automated spam detection tools.
• Password Reset Requests: If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.

We do not sell or share personal information for marketing purposes. All shared data is limited to what is required to operate our program, ensure safety, and improve user experience.

How long we retain your data

If you leave a comment, both the comment and its metadata are retained for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which they were collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Under GDPR and Texas privacy standards, data is not kept indefinitely without purpose and is periodically reviewed for deletion.

For users who register on our website (if any), we store the personal information provided in their user profile only for as long as the account remains active or as needed to provide services. Users may request to access, correct, export, or delete their personal information at any time (except for their username). Website administrators may also access and update this information when required for security, administrative needs, or support purposes, in accordance with GDPR data‑minimization and Texas data‑protection requirements.

What rights you have over your data

If you have an account on this site or have left comments, you can request an exported file of your personal data, including any data you have provided.

You may also request deletion of personal data we hold about you. This excludes any data we must retain for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Where your data is sent

Data submitted through our website may be processed or transmitted to trusted third‑party service providers that support our program operations. This may include:

• Technovation (Global Nonprofit Organization): Certain program‑related submissions may be shared with Technovation for registration, youth‑safety verification, and participation in the global program.
• Google Analytics: Anonymous visitor activity may be sent to Google Analytics to help us understand site performance.
• Spam Detection Services: Visitor comments and form submissions may be checked through automated spam and security detection tools.
• Program Tools: Data may be transmitted to third‑party platforms used for communication, scheduling, virtual meetings, or document management.

All data transmission is limited to what is necessary to provide services, maintain safety, and support the functionality of our website and Technovation Texas programming.

Data Protection Officer (DPO) Contact

In compliance with GDPR and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), users may contact our Data Protection Officer with any questions, concerns, or requests regarding personal data, privacy rights, or data handling practices.

Data Protection Officer (DPO)
IntellorAI — Technovation Texas Chapter Support
Email: dpo@technovationtexas.com

You may contact the DPO to:

• Request access to your personal data
• Request correction, deletion, or export of data
• Inquire about data usage, sharing, or retention practices
• Report a privacy or data‑handling concern
• Request clarification on any part of this Privacy Policy

We respond to all verified privacy‑related requests within the timelines required by GDPR and Texas state law.

TERMS OF USE

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Technovation Texas website (https://technovationtexas.com), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the site.

2. Who We Are

This site is operated by Intellorai, the supporting implementation partner for the Technovation Texas program. Intellorai is an independent organization and not a subsidiary of Technovation. Participation in the global Technovation program is facilitated through this chapter but operates under Technovation’s separate policies and guidelines.

3. Eligibility

Use of this site is intended for:

• Parents, students, and families seeking program information.
• Mentors, volunteers, and partners interested in participating.
• Schools, libraries, and community organizations exploring collaboration.
  Users under 18 should browse the site with parent or guardian supervision.

4. Program Participation Rules

Participation in the Technovation Girls program requires compliance with:

• Technovation’s global rules and guidelines.
• Youth-safety requirements (including background checks for applicable volunteers).
• Code of conduct, communication rules, and technology usage guidelines.
  Intellorai supports local implementation but does not override Technovation’s program policies.

5. User Responsibilities

Users agree not to:

• Use the site for unlawful activity.
• Submit harmful, false, or misleading information.
• Interfere with or disrupt website functionality.
• Upload content that infringes on intellectual property or violates privacy.

6. Intellectual Property

All content on this site—including text, graphics, logos, images, and assets—is owned by Intellorai unless otherwise noted. Technovation trademarks and curriculum assets remain the property of Technovation.
Users may not reproduce, distribute, or modify any site content without written permission.

7. External Links & Embedded Content

This site may include links to Technovation.org, YouTube, partner organizations, and learning tools. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of external websites.

8. Accounts & Login Access

If any portion of the site requires account access:

• You must provide accurate information.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
• You must notify us immediately of unauthorized access.

9. Limitation of Liability

This site provides information and resources “as-is” without warranties of any kind. IntellorAI is not liable for:

• Errors or inaccuracies in content
• Losses from website downtime or technical issues
• Actions taken based on the information provided
• User-submitted content on forms or comments

10. Program Disclaimer

While Intellorai supports the delivery of the Technovation program locally, all official program rules, curriculum, and competition guidelines are governed by Technovation. Users should refer to Technovation.org for official materials.

11. Children’s Online Safety

We are committed to protecting the safety and privacy of minors who interact with our website and participate in the Technovation Texas program. This website may be accessed by students under 18; therefore, the following safety principles apply:

• Parental/Guardian Supervision: Minors should use this site with the guidance of a parent, guardian, or educator.

• No Direct Contact With Minors: IntellorAI staff, volunteers, and program representatives do not engage in private, unmonitored communication with minors through this website.

• No Collection of Data From Children Under 13 Without Consent: In accordance with COPPA, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verified parental or guardian consent.

• Youth-Safety Protocols: Any data collected for Technovation program participation follows Technovation’s global youth-safety policies, which may include parent authorization, background checks for adult volunteers, and monitored communication channels.

• Prohibited Use: Children may not submit sensitive personal information (such as addresses, school details, or phone numbers) without parent or guardian approval.

Parents and guardians may contact the data privacy officer at dpo@technovationtexas.com to review, request deletion, or ask questions about their child’s information.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Use at any time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Use:
Email: info@technovationtexas.com