Application security, Breach, Data Security

Errant email exposes PII of Chicago Public School systems students

A Chicago Public Schools (CPS) worker accidentally emailed private student information to more than 3,700 families who have students in the system.

CPS reported the incident took place on June 15 and the compromised information included names, email addresses, phone numbers and student ID numbers, according to the Chicago Tribune. The school district employee who sent the emails has been removed from his or her position. The number of students affected was not released.

“We sincerely apologize for this unintended disclosure and ask that you please delete the information in question. We are taking this matter very seriously, and a review of this incident is underway to determine how this breach occurred and ensure a similar matter does not occur again,” an email sent by Tony Howard, executive director of CPS' Department of Education Policy and Procedures, the Tribune said.

This is the second time a CPS staffer has exposed student information. In 2016 30,000 students had their information compromised when an employee in the school's district shared confidential student data with the Noble Network of Charter Schools, which then used the information for a mail advertising campaign.

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