FAQ
PowerSchool Data Breach Class Action Lawsuit
In December 2024, PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. and PowerSchool Group, LLC suffered a catastrophic data breach that exposed the sensitive personal information of an estimated 62 million students and 9.5 million teachers across the United States and Canada. On January 7, 2025, PowerSchool disclosed this cybersecurity incident, revealing that hackers had gained unauthorized access to PowerSchool’s Student Information System (SIS) through a customer support portal lacking basic security protections.
The breach exposed decades of highly sensitive student and staff data, potentially including:
- Names and addresses
- Dates of birth
- Social Security numbers
- Medical information and health conditions
- Student grades and attendance records
- Disciplinary records
- Parent/guardian contact information
- Other personal identifiable information
Recent investigations have revealed that PowerSchool failed to implement basic cybersecurity measures that could have prevented this breach. Families and educators impacted by this massive data breach may be eligible for compensation.
Critical Security Failures at PowerSchool
PowerSchool’s Student Information System (SIS) is used by more than 18,000 schools across North America to manage sensitive information for approximately 60 million students.
Parents and schools entrusted PowerSchool with protecting this data, but the company allegedly failed to implement fundamental security protocols:
- A maintenance account used to access customer data lacked multi-factor authentication, a basic security measure
- The breach remained undetected until the hacker contacted PowerSchool directly
- Unauthorized access to PowerSchool’s systems occurred as early as August 2024, months before the December breach was discovered
- Internal reports indicate PowerSchool was aware of security vulnerabilities but failed to address them
- Hackers were able to download millions of children’s personal information through a “Maintenance Access” function
Regulatory Concerns and Legal Action
Following the disclosure of this massive breach, PowerSchool has faced intense scrutiny from regulators and legal experts. A Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 3149) has been established to consolidate the numerous lawsuits filed against PowerSchool across the country.
The severity of this breach is particularly concerning as it impacts minors who had no choice in how their information was stored or protected. Child identity theft can have long-lasting consequences, as stolen information can be used for years before detection.
Despite PowerSchool claiming that the stolen data was deleted after a ransom payment, cybersecurity experts caution that there is no way to verify that copies weren’t made or sold on dark web marketplaces.
If you or your child’s personal information was compromised in the PowerSchool data breach, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Identity theft protection services
- Credit monitoring expenses
- Time spent addressing the breach
- Emotional distress
- Actual identity theft or fraud
- Future risks of harm
Contact Seeger Weiss today for a free, confidential consultation to learn about your legal rights and options.