Red Deer Public Schools has provided parents with an update on the PowerSchool data breach that took place in December. A letter was sent out to parents this week.
On January 8, 2025, families were made aware of a PowerSchool data breach, which was identified on December 28, 2024. PowerSchool acted immediately to secure the affected data and mitigate any ongoing risks. This breach was widespread, impacting PowerSchool clients across Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world.
The breach involved current and past student and staff information stored within the PowerSchool Student Information System.
The compromised student data includes:
- Student names
- Student mailing addresses
- Dates of Birth - students only
- Student home phone numbers
- Basic student medical information (in some cases), such as details about asthma, diabetes, or allergies.
PowerSchool, in collaboration with TransUnion and Experian, will offer two years of complimentary identity protection services for all students whose information from the PowerSchool breach was involved. This offer will also include two years of complimentary credit monitoring services for all students whose information was involved and who have reached the age of majority. The offered credit monitoring services, which will be available for those who have reached the age of majority, will be provided by TransUnion; the offered identity protection services, which will be available for all involved students, will be provided by Experian. Credit monitoring is being provided by TransUnion because Experian does not offer credit monitoring in Canada.
PowerSchool has been working with Red Deer Public Schools and other affected divisions during its initial investigation, but will now take over all communication with those directly affected.
Starting in the next few weeks PowerSchool will provide notice to students and parents/guardians whose information was involved, as well as a phone number to answer any questions you may have about the incident.
The notice will include the identity protection and credit monitoring services offer.
Visit https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/ for up-to-date information on the cybersecurity incident.
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