Expert Terms of Service Addendum

Additional terms governing Expert and Expert Pro participation on the EducationAnswers platform.

View Main Terms of Service →

Effective Date: January 15, 2026

This Expert Terms of Service Addendum (the "Expert Addendum") is entered into between BrightMeasure LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ("BrightMeasure," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"), and the individual or entity applying to participate as an Expert or Expert Pro on the EducationAnswers platform ("Expert," "you," or "your").

BrightMeasure operates the EducationAnswers platform located at www.educationanswers.org (the "Platform").

This Expert Addendum supplements the EducationAnswers Terms of Service (the "Main Terms"). By submitting an Expert application, registering as an Expert, or participating in Expert activities on the Platform, you agree to be bound by both the Main Terms and this Expert Addendum.

If there is a conflict between this Expert Addendum and the Main Terms, the Main Terms shall control unless expressly stated otherwise.

1. Expert Eligibility and Verification

To participate as an Expert or Expert Pro on the Platform, you must:

  • Complete the Expert application process;
  • Provide accurate professional credentials and background information;
  • Be reviewed and approved by BrightMeasure; and
  • Maintain accurate and current profile information.

BrightMeasure reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to approve, deny, suspend, or revoke Expert verification to maintain the integrity, safety, and trustworthiness of the Platform.

Verification status is determined independently of any subscription status.

2. Independent Service Provider Status

Experts participate on the Platform as independent service providers.

Nothing in this Agreement creates or shall be construed to create any:

  • employment relationship,
  • partnership,
  • joint venture,
  • franchise,
  • or agency relationship

between the Expert and BrightMeasure.

Experts retain full discretion regarding:

  • whether to accept or decline member requests,
  • when services are provided,
  • how services are performed, and
  • the professional judgment used in delivering services.

Experts are solely responsible for:

  • taxes,
  • professional licenses,
  • insurance,
  • regulatory compliance,
  • and any other legal obligations related to their professional activities.

BrightMeasure does not supervise or control the manner in which Experts perform professional services.

3. Platform Interaction Formats

The Platform provides infrastructure that enables defined interaction formats between Members and Experts.

These formats may include:

  • asynchronous written consultations (message consultations),
  • live video consultations,
  • scoping calls,
  • discussions within the Education Exchange,
  • responses to member-posted opportunities, projects, collaborations, or jobs,
  • and interactions with AI-assisted platform tools.

Experts independently decide whether to participate in any interaction.

BrightMeasure does not guarantee that Experts will receive any minimum number of requests, engagements, or opportunities through the Platform.

4. Expert Pro Subscription

The Platform may offer a paid subscription tier known as Expert Pro.

Expert Pro provides access to enhanced participation tools and platform infrastructure, which may include:

  • participation in request-routing features such as "Request a Match,"
  • the ability to verify resources within the What Works Library,
  • expanded participation in the Education Exchange,
  • access to the Opportunities Board to review and respond to member-posted opportunities,
  • and expanded access to AI-assisted platform tools.

Subscription status does not affect Expert verification status.

Subscription fees provide access to platform infrastructure and participation tools and do not constitute payment for professional services.

Failure to maintain an Expert Pro subscription will result in loss of Expert Pro features at the end of the applicable billing period, but the Expert account may continue as a standard Expert account subject to platform policies.

5. Payment Processing and Transaction Fees

Members may purchase certain defined interaction formats through the Platform, including message consultations and video consultations.

Payments for such interactions are processed through Stripe or another third-party payment processor designated by BrightMeasure.

By participating as an Expert, you authorize BrightMeasure to:

  • process payments through the designated payment processor;
  • deduct a ten percent (10%) transaction fee from payments received for platform-facilitated interactions; and
  • distribute the remaining balance to the Expert according to the platform payout schedule.

Experts agree to comply with all applicable payment processor terms, including Stripe's Connected Account Agreement and related policies.

BrightMeasure is not responsible for losses resulting from fraud, payment reversals, or chargebacks permitted under payment processor policies.

6. Opportunities and Off-Platform Engagements

Members may post opportunities, projects, collaborations, or job postings through the Platform.

Experts may respond to such opportunities and may communicate with Members through the Platform.

If a Member and an Expert independently agree to pursue a custom project or engagement outside the defined interaction formats available on the Platform, such engagement is solely between the Member and the Expert.

BrightMeasure is not a party to, and does not supervise or guarantee, any agreement formed between Members and Experts outside defined platform interaction formats.

7. Professional Standards

Experts agree to provide services in a professional, ethical, and lawful manner consistent with applicable professional standards.

Experts must:

  • maintain accurate profile information,
  • represent their qualifications truthfully, and
  • comply with the policies and operational guidance published in the Expert Hub and other platform documentation.

BrightMeasure reserves the right to suspend or terminate Expert access for material violations of platform standards or policies.

8. Confidentiality and Privacy

Experts may receive non-public information through their participation on the Platform.

Experts agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information and use it solely for purposes related to participation on the Platform.

Experts agree not to request, collect, or store protected student information governed by FERPA or other applicable privacy laws.

Any inadvertent receipt of such information must be reported promptly to BrightMeasure.

9. Intellectual Property and Platform License

Experts retain ownership of:

  • their pre-existing intellectual property,
  • materials developed independently outside the Platform, and
  • deliverables created for custom engagements arranged outside platform interaction formats.

For content submitted through platform interaction formats — including message consultations, video sessions, Exchange discussions, comments, and AI-assisted interactions — Experts grant BrightMeasure a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to: host, display, reproduce, index, summarize, distribute, and create derivative works for purposes of operating, improving, securing, marketing, and supporting the Platform and its services.

This license includes the use of anonymized or aggregated content to improve platform tools, including AI-assisted features.

BrightMeasure does not acquire ownership of Expert intellectual property.

10. AI-Assisted Platform Features

The Platform may incorporate AI-assisted tools that summarize or synthesize platform content.

Experts remain solely responsible for reviewing and approving the accuracy of any content delivered under their name.

Platform data may be used in anonymized or aggregated form to improve platform functionality and AI-assisted features.

11. Limitation of Platform Role

BrightMeasure provides technological infrastructure that enables interactions between Members and Experts.

BrightMeasure does not:

  • control professional advice provided by Experts,
  • guarantee outcomes from expert interactions, or
  • supervise off-platform engagements.

Experts are solely responsible for the content and professional services they provide.

12. Termination

Either party may terminate participation as an Expert at any time.

Upon termination, access to Expert or Expert Pro features will cease.

Sections relating to intellectual property, confidentiality, indemnification, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution shall survive termination.

13. Governing Law

This Expert Addendum shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

All dispute resolution procedures set forth in the EducationAnswers Terms of Service apply equally to Experts participating under this Addendum.

14. Modifications

BrightMeasure may modify this Expert Addendum from time to time.

Updated versions will be posted on the Platform.

Continued participation as an Expert after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

15. Entire Agreement

This Expert Addendum, together with:

  • the EducationAnswers Terms of Service,
  • the Privacy Policy,
  • the Expert Hub policies,
  • and any incorporated platform policies,

constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding Expert participation on the Platform.

This Expert Addendum supersedes any prior agreements, representations, or understandings relating to Expert participation.