What is BalanceBoard?

BalanceBoard is a free web app for middle and high school students that combines academic task management with mental health and wellness tracking. It syncs with Google Classroom to automatically import assignments and uses AI to detect stress and help manage workload. Anonymous community features (Vent Rooms, Study Pods, Peer Support Forum) are planned for a future release.

How is BalanceBoard different from other homework planner and wellness apps?

Homework planners like myHomework, Power Planner, and Shovel track assignments but know nothing about the student's stress; wellness apps like Finch, Daylio, and Calm track mood but know nothing about the workload causing it. BalanceBoard is built on the observation that the heavy week and the stressed week are the same week — so it connects both sides: a student's daily stress check-in changes what the app recommends doing next (on a hard day it shrinks the task to one small step), and weekly insights show how assignment load and stress moved together. It also combines Google Classroom auto-sync, an AI that slices big assignments into small timed steps, and deadline notifications in one free app.

Is BalanceBoard safe for teens?

Yes. BalanceBoard is designed with teen safety as its core priority. The AI is hard-coded to refuse homework assistance and forbidden from romantic/relationship conversations. The platform complies with COPPA (13+ requirement), FERPA, and follows Safe Messaging Guidelines on suicide and self-harm. We do not sell student data or use it for advertising. Community features (planned for a future release) will use anonymous generated usernames, and Vent Room messages will auto-delete after 24 hours.

Does BalanceBoard access Google Classroom grades?

No. BalanceBoard only reads your enrolled course names, assignment titles, due dates, and submission status (turned in or not). It uses read-only API scopes and cannot access the content of submitted work, actual grades, or make any changes to your Google account.

Is BalanceBoard a mental health app?

BalanceBoard is a student wellness and organizational tool, not a clinical mental health treatment platform. It helps students track their stress, sleep, and mood over time and provides general wellness suggestions. It is not therapy, does not provide medical diagnoses, and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. For crisis support, students should contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741).

Can teachers or parents see a student's BalanceBoard data?

No. By default, only the student can see their own data — including wellness check-ins, AI conversations, tasks, and anonymous community posts. Teachers have no access. Parents have no access by default. A future optional counselor feature will allow licensed school counselors to view a wellness summary only with the student's explicit, revocable consent.

What AI does BalanceBoard use?

BalanceBoard uses Anthropic's Claude Haiku 4.5 for its AI Buddy and AI Wellness Coach. The AI helps manage tasks through natural language, detects stress signals, and provides wellness habit suggestions. It has strict guardrails: it will not do homework, won't engage in forbidden topics (politics, dating advice, medical diagnoses), and always redirects users in crisis to professional resources.

How do I delete my BalanceBoard account?

Go to Settings → Delete Account within the app, or email support@balanceboard.app with subject 'Data Deletion Request.' All personal data is purged within 30 days. You can also visit balanceboard.app/data-deletion for step-by-step instructions.

What is the minimum age for BalanceBoard?

BalanceBoard requires users to be at least 13 years old, in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) — in practice that means 7th through 12th grade for most students. Date of birth is verified at signup, and accounts cannot be created for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.

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