Policies

Policies & Terms of Instruction

These are the terms under which I work with families. I state them here so that we begin with the same understanding of my role, what I ask of students and families, and what happens when plans change.

Booking a session constitutes acceptance of these terms. Before instruction begins, I also send the policies by email and ask for a short reply confirming that they have been read.

Scope

The scope of my role

I am your student's instructor. I teach, prepare sessions around the student's course, assign and review work, keep detailed notes, and report honestly on what I observe.

There are also limits to that role.

I do not contact schools, teachers, or counselors or advocate in grade disputes, placement decisions, or accommodation requests.
I do not mediate between a student and their family. If I see a problem with grades, effort, or motivation, I will tell you what I observe and what I think may help. The family conversation remains yours.
I do not provide counseling, testing, diagnosis, or accommodation recommendations. If I believe a student may benefit from support outside my scope, I will suggest speaking with the school or an appropriate professional.
I do not supervise homework completion between sessions unless between-session support has been added. Even then, my role is academic feedback rather than enforcement.

Clear boundaries help me remain focused on the work I am engaged to do.

Progress

Shared responsibility for progress

Instruction is one part of a student's progress. I take responsibility for what is within my control. That includes preparation, mathematical accuracy, instruction appropriate to the student, notes and solutions after sessions, and honest communication with families.

Other factors also matter.

consistent attendance and readiness to work
completing assigned work between sessions
active participation during sessions
classroom instruction, grading policies, assessment difficulty, and test-day conditions
the amount of time remaining before an exam, particularly when instruction begins late in a course

If one of these becomes a significant obstacle, I will tell you clearly and as early as I can. Regular instruction cannot substitute for work that is not being done between meetings.

Academic progress and outcomes

I do not guarantee a particular grade, test score, class placement, or AP exam result, and I will not agree to do so if asked. Families are engaging instructional time and academic coaching rather than a promised outcome.

I hold myself to standards I can control. Sessions should be prepared, the mathematics should be accurate, and the instruction should be responsive to the student. I will also communicate honestly about progress, including when I think something needs to change.

Attendance

Attendance, cancellation, and rescheduling

Each student holds a recurring weekly time that is reserved for them.

Rescheduling requires at least 24 hours' notice. When possible, I will offer another time during the same week.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are billed in full. Missed sessions are also billed in full.
Late arrival does not extend the scheduled end time.
Each family receives one exception per term without question.
Illness and family emergencies are handled with discretion.
If I cancel, the session is not billed. I will offer a replacement time or a credit.

Sustained absence, by which I mean three or more consecutive missed weeks without an arranged pause, releases the weekly slot back to the schedule. I will always write to you before that happens.

Billing

Billing and payment

Sessions are billed after they occur, never in advance.
On the first business day of each month, I send one invoice covering the previous month's sessions.
Payment is due within seven days of the invoice date.
Accepted methods are Apple Cash, PayPal, and Zelle.
If an invoice remains unpaid fourteen days after the due date, instruction pauses until the balance is settled.
The weekly slot is held for two weeks after instruction pauses. After that, it may be released.
Completed sessions are not refundable. Sessions billed under the cancellation policy are also nonrefundable.
Between-session support is billed monthly at $200. It may be added or discontinued with fourteen days' notice, effective at the start of the next billing month.
Between-session support is not prorated within a month.
Rates are held for the full academic year for enrolled families. Any change takes effect the following academic year, with notice by the preceding June.

Referrals

If you refer a family and their student enrolls, I credit one 60-minute session to your next invoice after the new student completes a first month of instruction.

There is no limit on referrals. If you are no longer enrolled when the credit becomes available, I will send an Amazon gift card for the same amount.

I ask that referrals be genuine recommendations for families you believe would be a good fit for the practice.

Conduct

Sessions are meant to be calm working environments. Questions are taken seriously, and students are not made to feel foolish for not knowing something. I extend that courtesy to students and families and ask for the same in return.

Session time is not used to manage conflict about grades or effort. If a session becomes unproductive for reasons I cannot resolve during the meeting, I may end it early and bill for the scheduled time. I will always write to you afterward to explain what happened and what I recommend next.

Materials

Materials, recording, and intellectual property

The curriculum, worked solutions, guides, problem sets, and session notes I provide are my own work. They are licensed to the enrolled student for personal academic use during our engagement and for the student's own review afterward.

They may not be redistributed, shared with other students or tutoring services, posted publicly, sold, or used to train or prompt an automated system.

I do not record sessions and ask students and families not to record them by video, audio, or screen capture. If a recording would be useful for a particular student, contact me in advance. Any recording requires written agreement and is limited to that student's personal use.

Whiteboard work, notes, and full solutions are uploaded after each session.

Communication

Communication and student records

I answer email on weekdays, usually within one business day. Families enrolled in between-session support have broader weekday and weekend access for academic questions, though this is not an on-call service.

For students under 18, a parent or guardian is included on every communication channel I use with the student. Scheduling and questions often happen by text, so this usually means a group message that includes the student, a parent or guardian, and me.

I follow this practice for all minor students. Scheduling changes and billing are confirmed directly with the parent or guardian. Parents may also be added to the shared materials folder and may ask to review my session notes at any time.

The privacy notice explains what information I collect, why I collect it, who processes it, and how long I retain it.

Ending

Ending the engagement

Either the family or I may end the arrangement with two weeks' written notice. Sessions already scheduled during that period are billed as usual.

I may also end an engagement, with notice and a final prorated invoice, in the following circumstances.

repeated missed or late-cancelled sessions
invoices unpaid fourteen days after the due date
a student who remains unwilling to participate after the issue has been raised and we have tried to address it
conduct toward me from a student or adult that is hostile, demeaning, or abusive

Concerns

Raising a concern

If you are not satisfied with how instruction is going, please tell me. Write to hi@katherinedelno.com with the specifics. I will respond within two business days and propose a call.

Many concerns can be addressed by changing something concrete, such as pacing, the balance of teaching and independent work, assigned practice, session length, or the topics we prioritize.

I ask that concerns come to me directly and in writing rather than through a student. Whenever possible, I would like us to discuss the problem before either of us decides to end the arrangement.

Accessibility

I want this website and my instruction to be usable by everyone. I aim to follow recognized web accessibility guidelines, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, and make ongoing improvements.

If you have difficulty accessing content on this site, need materials in an alternative format, or need an accommodation for sessions, please email hi@katherinedelno.com. I will work with you promptly to provide the information or assistance you need.

Changes

Changes to these policies

These policies were last updated on 3 August 2026.

I will give enrolled families at least fourteen days' notice by email before any change that materially affects them. Continuing instruction after that notice constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Questions are welcome before enrollment or at any point afterward. You can reach me at hi@katherinedelno.com.

What I collect from families and students, and what happens to that information, is explained under Privacy.