Expert issues warning after PowerSchool data breach [Video]

SEATTLE — A cloud-based software company used by schools across the nation to manage student data is grappling with the fallout from a significant data breach. 

PowerSchool, a widely used platform among districts in western Washington, including Seattle and Everett, confirmed the breach. It has prompted concerns over the safety of millions of students’ personal information.

Seattle Public Schools announced Thursday that while they use PowerSchool’s services, student data within their district was not compromised. The district credits its use of a virtual private network, or VPN, as an additional layer of security.

Everett Public Schools, too, said it uses the PowerSchool products but none were impacted by the breach. 

PowerSchool disclosed that in the final days of 2024, someone executed an “unauthorized exportation of personal information.” According to its website, the California-based company manages data for approximately …