Worcester, Somerset County Public Schools confirm cybersecurity breach

MARYLAND – Worcester and Somerset County Public schools have announced a cybersecurity breach that could contain personal information of students and families.

PowerSchool, the company that student information systems provider for both school districts, confirmed a cybersecurity breach affecting customers nationwide. SCPS and WCPS have both been affected.

Compromised data includes student, family, and staff contact information. In some cases, personally identifiable information like social security numbers may have been impacted as well.

PowerSchool says that it has notified the FBI and hired a cybersecurity firm to assist in addressing the breach.

School officials say they are coordinating with PowerSchool and other information technology leaders in Maryland to fully assess the situation.

Both districts say that after communication with PowerSchool leadership, it was made that no additional action from SCPS/WCPS could have been taken.

WCPS added, “PowerSchool has made a commitment to conduct a thorough notification process to all impacted individuals.  WCPS intends to hold PowerSchool to its commitments.”