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Millions of CA student records exposed by hacker
17 Oct
Summary
- Millions of students' data was accessed by a hacker.
- The breach occurred via a non-profit contractor's system.
- Sensitive student data like names and disability status was exposed.
A significant data breach has impacted millions of students in California. An unauthorized party gained access to the sensitive information of all students enrolled over the past three school years. This breach was facilitated by exploiting the system of Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit contractor working with the California Department of Education.
The California Department of Education confirmed the incident, stating that the hacker accessed data including names, birth dates, addresses, and disability status. The breach was identified on September 25, 2026, but an investigation revealed that unauthorized access had been ongoing since May 22, 2026, continuing until September 18, 2026.
Educational Testing Service, which administers statewide assessments like English language proficiency tests, began notifying affected students and their families on Friday, October 16, 2026. The organization has implemented enhanced security measures, including stronger access controls and further third-party reviews, to prevent future incidents. While Social Security numbers and financial data were not affected, the compromised information impacts a vast number of students.
