Business ProfileforGold Leaf Academy

On February 18, 2019, BBB Serving North Central Texas requested that Gold Leaf Academy substantiate, modify, or discontinue advertising statements on its website to comply with the BBB Code of Advertising.

The business advertises:

*** "Your diploma from Gold Leaf Academy is recognized by the state of Texas to be 100% official and will be accepted by any state funded institution."

*** "We are registered in the state of Texas but our diploma works nationwide."

*** "The state of Texas requires certain criteria to be met before a home schooled student can earn a high school diploma. Those categories are reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and citizenship."

*** "Our curriculum meets and exceeds the minimum expectations set by the state."

*** "Furthermore, under state law we are not required to be accredited by any institution."

*** According to a testimonial from Robin: "The course was easy to follow and the instructors were there for me every step of the way."

According to the BBB Code of Advertising: "1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB. 1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used. 1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true. 1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact."

Lastly, according the Section 30 of the BBB Code of Advertising: 30.1.1 It is not genuine and does not actually represent the current opinion of the endorser; 30.1.3 It contains representations or statements which would be misleading if made directly by the advertiser; 30.1.4 While literally true, it creates deceptive implications; 30.1.5 The endorser has not been a bona fide user of the endorsed product or service at the time when the endorsement was given, where the advertiser represents that the endorser uses the product or service; 30.1.6 It is not clearly stated that the endorser, associated with some well-known and highly-regarded institution, is speaking only in a personal capacity, and not on behalf of such an institution, if such be the fact; 30.1.10 The advertiser represents, directly or by implication, that the endorser is an "actual consumer" when such is not the case and the advertisement fails to clearly and conspicuously disclose that fact; 30.1.11 A consumer's experience represented in an advertisement is not the typical experience of those using the product or service, unless the advertisement clearly and conspicuously discloses what the expected results will be."

The business failed to address any of the concerns brought to its attention. As of April 12, 2019, the business has failed to substantiate, modify, or discontinue any of the advertising concerns brought to its attention.