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Cookie Policy

Effective Date: February 20, 2026 · Last Updated: March 2026

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which ones ProTeach Home Learning uses, and how you can control them. We use only essential cookies required to operate the portal — we do not use third-party advertising cookies, tracking cookies, or analytics cookies. We default to declining non-essential cookies. Firebase Auth also uses localStorage and sessionStorage (not traditional cookies) to maintain your authentication state.

This policy is part of our broader Privacy Policy. By using our website and portal, you agree to our use of cookies as described here.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit it. They are widely used across the web to make websites work correctly, remember your preferences, and provide analytical information to site operators.

Cookies do not contain executable code and cannot access files on your computer beyond what the browser stores. They are simply data files used to identify your browser session and store small amounts of information.

There are different types of cookies:

  • Session cookies exist only while your browser is open. They are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
  • Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time (e.g., 90 days) even after you close your browser.
  • First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting (proteachhomelearning.com). All cookies ProTeach uses are first-party.
  • Third-party cookies are set by a domain other than the site you are visiting. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

2. Cookies We Use

The following table summarizes all cookies used on the ProTeach platform. We keep this list minimal and do not introduce new cookies without updating this policy.

Cookie NamePurposeDurationRequired?
__sessionFirebase Authentication session token. Keeps you logged in securely.Session / 1 hourRequired
firebase:authUserFirebase Auth state stored in localStorage/sessionStorage. Maintains your authenticated session between page loads without requiring re-login.Session (sessionStorage) or until sign-out (localStorage)Required
themeStores your selected theme preference (light or dark). Stored in localStorage.1 yearOptional
proteach_prefStores your portal display preferences (e.g., subject order, grade display). Stored in localStorage.90 daysOptional

3. Required Cookies (Cannot Be Disabled)

Some cookies are strictly necessary for the ProTeach portal to function. Without these cookies, core features of the service — including logging in, staying logged in, and protecting your account — will not work.

Why these cannot be turned off

Required cookies handle authentication (verifying that you are who you say you are when you log in) and security (protecting against CSRF attacks that could allow malicious websites to take actions on your behalf). Disabling these cookies would make it impossible to maintain a logged-in session and would prevent the portal from loading correctly.

  • Authentication cookie (__session): Set by Firebase Authentication when you log in. Contains an encrypted token used to verify your identity on each request. Expires after 1 hour of inactivity; refreshed automatically while you are active.
  • Firebase Auth tokens: Firebase sets authentication-related cookies and local storage tokens to maintain your logged-in session and protect against unauthorized access.

You can prevent these cookies by not using the portal, but doing so means you will not be able to access your ProTeach account.

4. Optional Preference Cookies

ProTeach uses two optional preference storage items. These are not required for the portal to function — disabling them will not prevent login or access to any feature. We default to declining any non-essential cookie category.

Theme Preference (localStorage)

We store your selected color theme (light or dark) in your browser's localStorage. This is a single key-value entry — it contains no personal information, cannot be read by third parties, and persists until you clear your browser data or change your theme.

Portal Display Preferences (localStorage)

We may store minor portal UI preferences (e.g., dismissed onboarding notices, subject display order) in localStorage. This data is entirely local to your browser, is never transmitted to our servers, and expires or is cleared when you clear site data.

No Analytics Cookies

ProTeach does not use Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or any third-party analytics service that sets cookies or tracking identifiers. We do not collect aggregate usage data through third-party tools.

5. No Advertising or Tracking Cookies

ProTeach does not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies of any kind. Specifically:

  • We do not run retargeting or behavioral advertising campaigns, and therefore have no advertising tracking cookies whatsoever.
  • We do not embed third-party social media pixels (e.g., Facebook Pixel, TikTok Pixel, Twitter/X Pixel, Pinterest Tag) on any page of our website or portal.
  • We do not use third-party analytics services (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Hotjar, etc.) that set cookies or tracking identifiers on your device.
  • We do not participate in cross-site tracking networks or data broker relationships.
  • Child data collected through our platform is never used for any advertising purpose, in accordance with COPPA and our absolute commitment to children's privacy.
  • We default to declining non-essential cookies — we do not use opt-in cookie banners that require you to actively refuse tracking. Non-essential tracking is off by default.

If you ever see what appears to be a third-party advertising cookie from our domain, please contact us immediately — it would represent a misconfiguration we want to fix right away.

6. Firebase Auth & localStorage / sessionStorage

Firebase Authentication — the system we use to keep you logged into ProTeach — stores your authentication state using browser localStorage and sessionStorage, in addition to a traditional session cookie. This is standard behavior for Firebase-based applications.

  • localStorage (firebase:authUser:*): If you are signed in with “Remember me” behavior, Firebase stores your authentication token in localStorage so you remain signed in across browser sessions. This data stays on your device and is never accessible by third parties.
  • sessionStorage (firebase:authUser:*): If you sign in without persistence, Firebase uses sessionStorage, which is cleared automatically when you close the browser tab.
  • How to clear: You can clear Firebase Auth data at any time by logging out of ProTeach (which clears the token), or by clearing your browser's site data for proteachhomelearning.com in your browser settings.
  • Not shared: localStorage and sessionStorage data is sandboxed to proteachhomelearning.com and cannot be read by any other website or third party.

7. How to Control Cookies

You have several options for controlling cookies. Note that disabling required cookies will prevent the portal from functioning correctly.

Browser Settings

Most browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings menu. Typical options include blocking all cookies, blocking third-party cookies only, or clearing cookies at the end of each session. Instructions vary by browser:

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
  • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  • Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data

Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers support a “Do Not Track” (DNT) signal. At this time, there is no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, and we do not currently modify our behavior based on DNT. We will update this policy if an industry standard is adopted.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies, or if you would like to report a concern about a cookie you encountered on our platform, please contact us:

ProTeach Home Learning

General Support: support@proteachhomelearning.com

Privacy & Cookies: privacy@proteachhomelearning.com

Phone: (917) 932-2465

This Cookie Policy may be updated as our cookie usage changes. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised effective date. Material changes will also be communicated via email.