Overview of PowerSchool Data Breach: What Happened and How You Can Protect Your Information
On January 7, 2025, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) was alerted by PowerSchool, the platform used to manage student information, about a cybersecurity breach. Following the notification, CBE promptly initiated an internal investigation to understand the cause and determine the extent of the breach. PowerSchool is currently working with CBE to help assess the situation and gather more information.
This breach has affected several school boards across both Canada and the United States, potentially compromising sensitive data related to students and staff. Here is a detailed breakdown of the incident and how individuals can take action to safeguard their information.
Who Was Affected by the PowerSchool Data Breach?
The breach has impacted both current and former students, as well as staff members of CBE. Here are the details:
- Students: Any student who has been part of the CBE system since September 2018, when PowerSchool was introduced, may have been affected. This also includes data from students who were enrolled in CBE prior to September 2018, as their records were transferred into PowerSchool when it launched.
- Staff: All current and former staff who have been part of the CBE system since the implementation of PowerSchool in 2018 are also at risk. This group includes teachers, administrators, contractors, and other employees whose information was entered into the system.
CBE is actively reviewing historical data imported into PowerSchool from previous systems to determine whether additional individuals may be impacted.
What Information Was Compromised?
While the investigation is ongoing, PowerSchool has confirmed that the following types of personal information may have been accessed and acquired by unauthorized individuals:
- Staff Information:
- Full names (first, middle, last)
- Employee numbers
- School and department names
- CBE-issued email addresses
- Home addresses and phone numbers (only in limited cases)
- School codes and phone numbers
- Student Information:
- Full names (first, middle, last)
- Home address and phone numbers
- Date of birth and gender
- Academic records, including grades
- Alberta student ID number and CBE-issued ID number
- Medical details (e.g., allergies, medications, health conditions, etc.)
- Guardian emergency contact information
- CBE-issued email address
PowerSchool has stated that it does not anticipate the compromised data will be shared or made public. Furthermore, they believe the data has been deleted without being disseminated further. Nevertheless, CBE continues to work with PowerSchool to enhance security and prevent future breaches.
What Information Was NOT Affected?
It is important to note that certain types of sensitive data are not stored in PowerSchool and were not impacted by this breach. These include:
- Financial or banking information
- Birth certificates
- Driver’s licenses
- Immigration documents
- Police check letters
What Steps Is PowerSchool Taking to Address the Breach?
In response to the breach, PowerSchool has partnered with TransUnion and Experian to offer identity protection services to those affected by the incident. This includes two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection for all students and staff whose personal information was involved.
How to Access Identity Protection Services
- Experian IdentityWorks:
PowerSchool is offering a two-year complimentary identity protection service through Experian’s IdentityWorks. To enroll, visit the Experian IdentityWorks website and enter the activation code: MPRT987RFK.- Deadline: Enroll by May 30, 2025, before 11 AM MT.
- For help with the enrollment process or any questions, please contact
How to Access Credit Monitoring Services
For students and staff members who are of the legal age of majority in Alberta, PowerSchool is offering credit monitoring services through TransUnion. Here’s how to sign up:
- Go to PowerSchool’s Canada Credit Monitoring page.
- Click on the link to the validation website.
- Enter your first name, last name, and year of birth.
- If your identity is validated, a pop-up will appear with an activation code and a link to TransUnion’s myTrueIdentity site for enrollment.
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Where Can I Find the Latest Updates?
For the latest details on the situation, please visit the CBE website, where updates will be posted regularly. PowerSchool is also providing updates on their own site regarding this breach.
If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to CBE or the customer support teams at Experian and TransUnion for assistance.
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