Policy version 2026-07-17
Terms of Participation
Compute Forward is free. An application is a request for human review, not an enrollment guarantee. Families receive the complete cohort schedule and commitment before accepting an offer.
1. Eligibility and authorization
Compute Forward serves K–12 students and may consider other student applicants where a program is appropriate. Level 1 requires no programming experience. Higher levels require readiness consistent with the preceding level.
- Applicants must provide accurate, current information.
- Applicants under 18 require parent or guardian authorization.
- A parent or legal guardian must submit for an applicant under 13.
- Applicants may not impersonate another person or submit applications without permission.
2. Applications and placement
Applications are reviewed by people. Compute Forward may recommend a different starting level, place an applicant on a waitlist, or decline an application based on readiness, capacity, safety, or operational fit. We do not promise admission, competition promotion, grades, internships, publication, or any particular academic outcome.
An interest application does not obligate an applicant to enroll. Exact dates, schedule, time zone, workload, technology requirements, capacity, mentor roster, and safety contacts must be provided before an offer must be accepted.
3. Participation expectations
Accepted students are expected to attend agreed sessions, make a good-faith effort on assignments or milestones, communicate foreseeable absences, protect account access, and ask for help when blocked. Families remain responsible for a minor’s general supervision, device access, and compliance with household rules.
Compute Forward may use third-party classroom, video, coding, or communication services. The required tool list and any account requirements will be disclosed before enrollment.
4. Conduct and safety
Every participant and mentor must follow the Student Safety Policy. Harassment, discrimination, threats, sexual content, doxxing, cheating, malicious code, unauthorized system access, and sharing private student information are prohibited.
Compute Forward may pause or end participation to protect students, investigate a concern, address repeated disruption, or respond to serious academic-integrity issues. Whenever appropriate, the student and guardian will receive an explanation and a chance to clarify the circumstances.
5. Student work and academic integrity
Students retain ownership of original work they create. Compute Forward receives only the limited permission needed to review, comment on, or display work within the learning environment. Public display, testimonial use, or promotional use requires separate permission.
External code, data, media, AI assistance, and collaborator contributions must be credited according to the assignment or project rules. Mentors guide and review; they do not become the hidden author of a student’s work.
6. Cost, equipment, and availability
Compute Forward does not charge tuition. Unless a cohort brief explicitly says otherwise, families provide their own computer, internet connection, and access to required free tools. The organization may change, postpone, or cancel a cohort when staffing, safety, capacity, or operational constraints make delivery impractical. We will communicate material changes promptly.
7. Educational scope
Compute Forward provides educational enrichment and mentorship. It is not a school, childcare provider, accredited institution, emergency service, professional counseling service, or guarantee of competition or admissions results.
8. Policy changes
Material changes receive a new version and effective date. A participant may be asked to acknowledge updated terms before joining a future cohort. Changes do not retroactively grant publicity rights or erase privacy choices.
9. Questions
Contact anishkoppula@gmail.com and kaushik.atla@gmail.com. For safety concerns, follow the reporting process in the Student Safety Policy.