Who we are
Last updated: May 24, 2026
Ark Discovery Institute (ADI) is a ministry of The Father’s Heritage, a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. We care deeply about the families we serve and treat your information with the same care we would expect for our own.
If you have questions about this policy, contact us at arkdiscovery@tfheritage.org or 252-497-8783.
Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
Information you give us directly:
- Contact form submissions (name, email, phone, message, areas of interest)
- Enrollment applications submitted through DreamClass (student name, date of birth, parent/guardian information, address, prior school records, medical and emergency contact information)
- Teacher and staff applications (resume, work history, references, statement of faith)
- Donations and giving (name, address, payment information processed through our giving platform)
- Event registrations (name, contact information, attendee details)
- Email and phone communications you initiate with us
Information collected automatically:
- Basic website analytics (pages visited, browser type, general location, time on site) through standard web tools
- Cookies that help the website function properly (see Section 6 below)
Information about students: For enrolled students and applicants, we collect academic records, attendance, assessment results, health information necessary for safety, and other information required to provide a quality education in accordance with North Carolina law.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your inquiries and provide requested information
- Process applications, enrollment, and tuition payments
- Communicate with families about school activities, events, schedules, and emergencies
- Maintain educational records as required by law
- Comply with the NC Opportunity Scholarship, ESA+, and other programs ADI participates in
- Process donations and provide tax receipts
- Improve our website and ministry programs
- Send occasional ministry updates and newsletters (you may unsubscribe at any time)
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. Ever.
Student Records and Privacy
ADI takes the privacy of student records seriously. While we are a private religious school and not directly subject to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we follow FERPA-aligned practices:
- Parents and legal guardians have the right to review their child’s educational records
- We do not disclose student records to third parties without parental consent, except as required by law, for educational evaluations, for safety emergencies, or in connection with scholarship programs the family has chosen to participate in
- Student records are stored securely and access is limited to authorized staff
- Records are retained for the period required by law and ministry policy
For families participating in the NC Opportunity Scholarship or ESA+ programs, certain student information must be shared with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) as a condition of program participation.
Who We Share Information With
We share information only when necessary and only with parties who agree to protect it:
- Service providers who help us operate the school (such as our student information system DreamClass, our website hosting provider, payment processors, and email services)
- Government agencies when required by law or to participate in scholarship programs (NCSEAA, DNPE, IRS, etc.)
- Educational evaluators and testing services as part of normal academic operations
- Emergency responders in the event of a health or safety emergency
- Our ministry leadership and board for governance and oversight purposes
We do not share information with advertisers, data brokers, or any party who would use it for commercial marketing.
Cookies and Website Tracking
Our website uses cookies to make the site work properly and to understand how visitors use it. Cookies are small files stored on your device. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features of the site may not work as well.
We may use basic analytics tools (such as Google Analytics or similar) to understand which pages are most useful to visitors. These tools collect anonymous information about your visit and do not identify you personally.
Third-Party Links and Embedded Content
Our website may link to or embed content from other services (such as DreamClass for enrollment, Jotform for applications, Givebutter for donations, YouTube for videos, or our social media accounts). When you interact with these services, their own privacy policies apply. We encourage you to review them.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect the information we collect, including secure storage, limited staff access, and trusted service providers. However, no method of transmission or storage over the internet is 100% secure. We work to protect your information but cannot guarantee absolute security.
If we ever experience a data breach affecting your information, we will notify you as required by law.
Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access the information we hold about you or your child
- Correct any information that is inaccurate
- Request deletion of your information, subject to legal and educational record-keeping requirements
- Unsubscribe from any non-essential communications at any time
- Withdraw consent for optional uses of your information
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at arkdiscovery@tfheritage.org. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.
Children’s Privacy
ADI serves children, and we take their privacy especially seriously. We do not collect information from children online without parental consent. All student information is collected through parent or guardian enrollment, not directly from children.
If you believe we have collected information from a child without proper parental consent, please contact us immediately at arkdiscovery@tfheritage.org and we will address it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our practices change or as laws require. When we make significant changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, when appropriate, notify families directly.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your information, please reach out:
Ark Discovery Institute A ministry of The Father’s Heritage Email: arkdiscovery@tfheritage.org Phone: 252-497-8783 Mailing: 9210 NC-55, Dover, NC 28526