PowerSchool, the provider of student information systems (SIS) used by school districts across North America, has issued an update on the cybersecurity breach that impacted multiple school divisions, including Rocky View Schools (RVS).
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The breach occurred on December 28, 2024, and involved unauthorized access through PowerSchool’s PowerSource portal, which is connected to its SIS platform. This system stores crucial student, family, and educator information.
The breach, attributed to compromised corporate credentials, exposed some personally identifiable information (PII), including social security numbers and medical data. However, PowerSchool confirmed that no financial or payment data was involved and emphasized that the breach was contained without further evidence of data dissemination.
"We take our responsibility to protect student, family, and educator data privacy extremely seriously," PowerSchool said on its website. "We apologize for any concern this incident may cause and are working diligently to provide timely updates."
PowerSchool also confirmed that the breach did not cause operational disruptions, and all other PowerSchool products remain unaffected. The company ensured that its systems had no malware or continued unauthorized activity.
On January 7, 2025, PowerSchool notified RVS and other affected school divisions about the breach. RVS confirmed on January 9 that some student and staff data had been compromised, and its Technology team is investigating the full scope of the incident in collaboration with PowerSchool. Although the full extent of the breach is still being assessed, RVS reassured families and staff that no financial information was stored in PowerSchool’s systems.
"While we are still determining the full scope, we can assure families and staff that no financial information was stored in PowerSchool," RVS said.
The division has already notified affected individuals and offers additional resources, such as credit monitoring and identity protection services.
"We understand the concern this situation causes for families and staff, and we assure everyone affected that RVS is taking this very seriously," RVS added.
Calgary Catholic Schools (CCSD), which also uses PowerSchool, confirmed that the breach did not impact it. After reviewing its systems and consulting with PowerSchool, CCSD assured families that their data remained secure.
"We remain committed to protecting the privacy and security of our students’ and families’ information," CCSD said.
For families seeking more details, PowerSchool encouraged parents to contact their schools directly. The company also reminded families to remain vigilant, as PowerSchool will never contact individuals by phone or email to request personal or account information.
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