Code of Conduct & Community Guidelines
Last updated: January 7, 2026
This Code of Conduct & Community Guidelines (“Guidelines”) applies to all users of Tutor ChienMilesAway, including Students, Parents/Guardians, Adult Learners, and Teachers (independent contractors). These Guidelines are incorporated into and form part of the Terms of Service, Refund & Cancellation Policy, and Teacher Agreement. In case of conflict, those agreements shall prevail.
1. Community Values
Tutor ChienMilesAway is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and professional online learning environment. Many students are minors; therefore, child safety, respect for teachers, non-discrimination, and platform integrity are fundamental values.
2. Platform Role
Tutor ChienMilesAway is a technology marketplace that connects independent Teachers with Students. Teachers are not employees of the Platform. The Platform does not provide instruction and is not responsible for Teachers’ taxes, insurance, benefits, or legal obligations.
3. No Off-Platform Contact Information (Child Safety & Risk Management)
All communication must remain on the Platform. Users may not request, share, or encourage sharing of personal contact information, including phone numbers, emails, messaging apps (LINE, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.), social media handles, or external payment links.
This restriction is a child-safety and risk-management measure, designed to mitigate risks under applicable California criminal laws relating to child endangerment, improper contact, grooming, or inducement of minors (including but not limited to California Penal Code §§ 272, 288, 647.6). It is not solely for commercial purposes.
Teachers are strictly prohibited from exchanging any off-platform contact information with minors, regardless of parental consent, unless expressly authorized in writing by the Platform.
4. No Off-Platform Payments or Circumvention (“No Side Deals”)
Users may not bypass the Platform by arranging private payments, off-platform lessons, discounted side deals, or recruiting Students or Teachers away from the Platform.
Any circumvention constitutes a material breach of the Teacher Agreement and may result in immediate suspension or termination of the Teacher’s account, forfeiture or withholding of pending payouts, and, where applicable, liquidated damages or claims for actual damages as permitted by California law.
5. Recording, Screenshots, and Privacy
Recording lessons, audio, video, screen captures, or taking screenshots is strictly prohibited without explicit consent from all participants. For minors, prior written consent from a parent or legal guardian is required. Unauthorized recording may result in immediate suspension or termination.
6. Child Safety and Appropriate Conduct
Teachers and Students must maintain professional boundaries at all times. Sexual content involving minors, grooming behavior, suggestive language, or inappropriate conduct is strictly prohibited and may be reported to appropriate authorities where required by law.
7. Respect, Non-Discrimination, and Professional Conduct (California Civil Code § 51)
Tutor ChienMilesAway enforces a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment in accordance with the California Civil Code § 51 (Unruh Civil Rights Act).
All users, including adult learners, must not engage in conduct that discriminates against, harasses, or excludes others on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.
Respectful communication and professional conduct (“尊師重道”) are mandatory at all times.
8. Harassment, Hate Speech, and Threats
The Platform enforces zero tolerance for hate speech, harassment, stalking, threats, intimidation, or abusive behavior. Violations may result in immediate enforcement action.
9. User Content
Users may not post unlawful, misleading, defamatory, infringing, or inappropriate content. Content involving minors must have proper authorization. The Platform may remove, restrict, or preserve content and records for dispute resolution and safety purposes.
10. Attendance and Punctuality
Students must attend lessons on time. Teachers must provide the full scheduled lesson duration. Missed or shortened lessons are handled in accordance with the Refund & Cancellation Policy.
11. Cancellations, No-Shows, and Force Majeure
Cancellations and rescheduling must comply with Platform policy, including the 10-hour free cancellation rule.
“Force Majeure” refers to unforeseeable, unavoidable events beyond a party’s reasonable control, including but not limited to serious illness requiring emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, traffic accidents, natural disasters, government orders, or widespread service outages.
Routine scheduling conflicts, minor illness, or foreseeable personal matters do not constitute Force Majeure.
12. 48-Hour Dispute Resolution Window
Lesson-related disputes must be reported within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled lesson end time.
If no dispute is submitted within this window, the lesson shall be deemed completed, and payment will be released to the Teacher. After payment is released, the Platform will no longer intervene, except where required by applicable law.
13. Academic Integrity
The Platform may not be used for cheating, completing exams, or producing academic work for submission. Teachers must refuse requests that violate academic integrity.
14. Platform Security and Abuse
Users may not attempt to bypass systems, scrape data, manipulate reviews, impersonate others, or engage in fraudulent or malicious activity.
15. Enforcement Actions
Violations of these Guidelines may result in warnings, content removal, feature restrictions, suspension, termination, withholding of payouts, claims for damages, or other remedies as permitted by law.
16. Reporting Violations
Users should report safety or conduct concerns to tutor@chienmilesaway.com with relevant details and evidence.
17. Guardian Responsibility Notice
Parents and legal guardians are responsible for supervising minors’ participation and learning environments. The Platform may impose additional safeguards, verification, or restrictions where child safety concerns arise.