Privacy Policy

NextStop provides real-time school bus tracking, arrival alerts, and communication tools for parents, drivers, and school transportation staff. This policy explains what information we collect through the NextStop mobile apps and website, how we use it, and the choices you have.

• Account information — name, email address, phone number, and the school or district you are affiliated with.
• Student information — names, grade, assigned routes and stops, provided by your school or district under a data processing agreement.
• Location data — GPS location of buses during active routes. Parent device location is not collected.
• Messages — communications between parents, drivers, and school administrators sent through the app.
• Device and usage data — device identifiers, push notification tokens, app version, and crash diagnostics.

• Deliver real-time bus tracking and arrival notifications
• Enable messaging between parents, drivers, and schools
• Authenticate users and keep accounts secure
• Diagnose crashes and improve app reliability
• Comply with legal obligations and school district policies

We do not sell personal information. We do not show advertising. We do not use student data for any purpose beyond providing the NextStop service to participating schools.

NextStop treats student records as education records under FERPA. We act as a “school official” with a legitimate educational interest under our agreements with schools and districts. For users under 13, we rely on verified consent from the school or parent, in line with COPPA.

We share information only with: (1) the school or district that provided it, (2) service providers who host, secure, or operate our infrastructure under contract, and (3) authorities when required by law. We never sell personal information, and we do not share mobile phone numbers or SMS opt-in consent with third parties for their marketing purposes.

If you provide a mobile number and opt in, NextStop sends SMS/text message notifications such as bus arrival alerts, route or stop changes, delays, and service announcements. Message frequency varies based on bus and route activity. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to any message to opt out at any time, or HELP for help.

No mobile information — including phone numbers and SMS opt-in consent — is shared with or sold to third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent is not shared with any third parties under any circumstances.

We keep account and student data for as long as your school uses NextStop, plus a limited retention window for backups and legal obligations. See our account deletion page for specific retention periods.

• Access or correct your account information in the app
• Disable push notifications in your device settings
• Request deletion of your account at /delete-account

We use industry-standard safeguards including encryption in transit, access controls, and audit logging. No system is perfectly secure, but we work continuously to protect your information.

We may update this policy as NextStop evolves. Material changes will be announced in the app and on this page, and the “Last updated” date above will reflect the revision.

Questions about this policy or your data? Email support@getnextstop.app.