Terms
Registration
Welcome to Principia! Before the first session, registration is required by accepting these policies and completing your Teachworks account online with contact, student, and billing information.
Session Protocol
a) Please note that all times are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, so a spot is not guaranteed until confirmation has been received. This applies to first sessions, rescheduled or additional sessions.
b) All scheduled sessions will be available to view at any time under the Teachworks calendar. Please note Company does not provide a list of scheduled sessions through email.
c) An "hour" of tutoring is 55 minutes in duration. The additional 5 minutes of each hour is used by Instructor to compile notes from the session that will be sent to Parent. For sessions longer than an hour, the last 5 minutes will be reserved for Instructor to do the above.
d) Instructor will share materials and resources via a Google Drive folder. Before the first session, please ensure that Student has access to Google Drive and a non-FCPS email address.
e) When Student is late for a session, Instructor will send a reminder email to both Student and Parent approximately 5-10 minutes after the start of the session.
Private Tutoring Billing
a) For month-to-month Students, Teachworks will auto-bill at the end of each month for that month's sessions using the encrypted card on file via Stripe, a leading global online payment processor trusted by thousands of businesses across the globe.
b) Itemized invoices for both are available for Parent to view through Teachworks under "Billing" → "Transactions."
c) It is the Parent's responsibility to ensure the card on file stays current. To update a card, please log into Teachworks and click "Billing" → "Credit Cards."
Late Payment
a) It is Parent's responsibility to keep their card information up-to-date on Teachworks. If the card on Teachworks is declined for whatever reason, Company will inform Parent, after which Parent has one week to resolve the issue.
b) After one week and weekly thereafter, a $25 late fee will be applied and all future sessions will be paused.
Making Appointments with Instructors and/or Directors
a) If Parent would like to set up a meeting with a private tutoring Instructor, please let both Instructor and info@principiatutors.com know at least 48 hours in advance of a session, and we will allot approximately 10 minutes either the beginning or end of the 1:1 session for the meeting.
b) If Parent would like to schedule a separate meeting outside of a session, it will be billed at the hourly rate accordingly in 15-minute increments.
c) For Group Classes, no in-session meetings are offered. For a separate meeting outside of a class, the instructor will offer a one-time 15-minute in-person or remote meeting based on their availability.
d) To schedule a meeting with Directors or Founders, please request by emailing info@principiatutors.com.
Cancellation Policy (Updated)
a) Since Company pays Instructors for all cancellations and rescheduled sessions with less than 48 hours notice, those sessions will be billed in full. Please note that any changes in student, date, or time qualify as rescheduling. Company will not remind Parent of the 48-hour cancellation policy, and Company will bill accounts accordingly.
b) Any cancellations for private tutoring will be made directly through the Teachworks platform. If you’d like to cancel a session, please follow these steps:
- Log in to your Teachworks account here and click the “Calendar” tab
- On the Calendar, select the session you’d like to cancel and click “View”
- Click the “Cancel” button
- When the next page pops up confirming the date and time you want to cancel, click “Cancel Session” to complete your cancellation
c) After canceling, to request an additional session, please email info@principiatutors.com at least 48 hours in advance.
d) Please note that if Parent or Student cancels three or more consecutive sessions, Company reserves the right to remove their weekly sessions from the calendar moving forward.
e) Parent is responsible for reaching out to move forward with any changes that differ from Company's time zone (EST) including any changes due to Daylight Savings.
f) Parent's initials herein confirms understanding of the above and that Company's cancellation policy is designed to retain the best Instructors long-term, providing consistency and quality for Students over their academic career.
Group Classes
a) To register for group classes, the tuition must be paid in full upon registration. If registration is canceled 3 weeks or more in advance, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $100 registration fee. 50% of the tuition minus the registration fee will be refunded for any cancellations made two weeks prior to the first class. Cancellations within a week from the start of the class won’t be refunded. If the balance is not paid one week before the start of the class and we're unable to reach Parent, the spot will be released to another student.
b) Due to the small size (six students max) and curated nature of our group classes, there are no refunds on tuition — it is the Parent's responsibility to ensure they are able to continue with the class as scheduled.
c) If Student is disruptive in class, Company will inform Parent in writing. If disruptions continue to the detriment of the other students, Company will issue a pro-rated refund for the class.
d) If Student fails to complete homework consistently, Company will reach out to Parent in writing once; it is Student's responsibility to complete the homework in order to make the most of the class.
e) If Student misses an in-person class, Company will send over missed materials, notes, and share in-class work to ensure Student is able to catch up for their next class. If a virtual class, Student is responsible for reviewing any materials and notes from that class day in order to prepare for the following class. No refunds or makeups will be given for a missed class. Parent can request to schedule additional, separately charged private 1:1 sessions with the group class instructors at the appropriate hourly rate to review what was covered in the missed class.
f) For group classes, feedback will be provided to students during class time, and weekly session notes will be sent to parents. No additional outside feedback will be provided, except for progress reports sent at the end of the all test prep classes.
Instructor Protocol
a) Company has a zero tolerance policy for parents and students acting in a disrespectful manner towards our instructors, staff, and fellow students. In such instances, Company reserves the right to take Student(s) off our tutoring schedule.
b) Instructors have an exclusive agreement with Company; thus Parent is prohibited from hiring Instructor's tutoring services outside of the Company.
Testing & Proctoring
a) Parent is responsible for registering Student for the official exam of their choosing. If Student has questions about the process, Student is responsible to discuss in session with Instructor.
b) Parent is responsible for contacting the official testing source to verify an accommodations plan for Student and providing the information on such accommodations to Company to discuss a testing plan.
c) All Principia proctoring occurs remotely due to space limitations at the physical office.
d) In order for Student to attend Principia’s weekly proctoring times, Student must be signed up for test prep sessions (private 1:1 tutoring or group class).
Office Reception
When in-person, due to the number of students testing, studying, and engaging in sessions, Parent will drop off Student and return to the center when the Student's session is completed. There are numerous coffee shops within walking distance, and there's a public library nearby. Ask us at the front desk for directions.
Media Release
a) Principia Tutors has the right to photograph or film at the center at any time, which may be used for marketing materials including but not limited to our website, YouTube channel, Instagram, Twitter, etc. No last names of photographed subjects will be disclosed without approval.
b) Signing below is an agreement to allow Principia Tutors to take photographs or film the child(ren) in your charge and grant permission for these to be used by Principia Tutors for promotion of their business.
Inclement Weather
In cases of inclement weather, our office will email the day prior to a scheduled session or as soon as possible to let Parent and Student that all in-person sessions will be conducted remotely.
COVID Clause
Principia Tutors (the “Business”) adopts a mask-optional policy whereby students and instructors have the right to request the other party or parties wear a mask during a session or group class.
If applicable, in exchange for being permitted to enter the premises of Principia Tutors (the "Business"), located at 1483 Chain Bridge Rd, Ste 104, McLean, VA 22101 (the "Premises"), I agree to the following as described in this contract.
a) I will follow all of the instructions of the Business while on the Premises, including:
- In an effort to minimize crowding, Student only enters the Premises; Parent may walk Student inside at the beginning of a session but is not permitted to stay; siblings, etc are not permitted to enter
- Student arrives no more than 5 minutes before scheduled start time
b) I agree not to enter the Premises if I, Student(s), or anyone in our family, am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, shortness of breath, or fever, have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, or have come in contact in the last 7 days with a person who has been confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19.
c) I agree to inform Business of a positive COVID test or symptoms, and to not send student(s) to Premises for 5 days after positive test or beginning of symptoms, whichever is later, and to wear a mask for an additional 5 days following on the Premises.
d) I acknowledge and agree that my Student(s) may be required to wear a mask if an instructor or classmate requests it.
e) I am aware of the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 and the risk that I may be exposed to or contract COVID-19 by being on the Premises and engaging in the Activity.
f) I acknowledge that I am voluntarily entering the Premises to engage in the Activity with knowledge of the danger involved. I hereby agree to accept and assume all risks of personal injury, illness, disability, or death related to COVID-19, arising from my being on the Premises or engaging in the Activity, whether caused by negligence of the Business or otherwise.
g) I hereby expressly waive and release any and all claims, now known or hereafter known, against the Business and its owners, employees, affiliates, and officers, on account of injury, illness, disability, or death arising out of or attributable to my being on the Premises or engaging in the Activity and being exposed to or contracting COVID-19, whether arising out of the negligence of the Business, its owners, employees, affiliates, officers, or otherwise.
h) If I, Student, or anyone in my household experiences any symptom of illness such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell, or has been diagnosed with Coronavirus/COVID-19 and not yet cleared as non contagious by state or local public health authorities, it is my responsibility to inform Business as soon as possible. I hereby agree to accept that Student will attend sessions remotely during this period of time.