The Urgent Need for Cybersecurity in K-12 Education (Blog 1 of 3 in Series)

By Tom Ryan, Ph.D. and Lenny Schad

The recent PowerSchool data breach has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities within K-12 education systems. Alongside similar incidents involving Illuminate Education and Edmodo, it is clear that schools must prioritize cybersecurity to protect student and staff data. Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it requires an enterprise-wide approach that involves district leadership, educators, and vendors.

The consequences of data breaches extend far beyond technical disruptions. Compromised student records lead to financial risks, legal liabilities, and a breakdown in trust between school districts and their communities. As leaders, we must take ownership of our cybersecurity practices and establish clear measures to safeguard our schools.

Why This Matters

Technology is essential to modern education, but it also introduces new risks. Many school districts rely on third-party vendors for student information systems, learning management tools, and other educational software. When these vendors fail to uphold cybersecurity best practices, student and staff data is exposed.

Major challenges that have emerged from past breaches include:

• Vendor security failures – Weak security policies and inadequate data protections.
• Delayed incident responses – Lack of timely breach notifications.
• Poor communication – Districts and families left in the dark about breaches.
• Weak internal safeguards – Insufficient policies for monitoring and responding to threats.
• Lack of vendor accountability – No standardized cybersecurity benchmarks.

The risks are clear: student data must be protected, and districts must hold vendors accountable. It’s time for district leaders to take proactive steps and strengthen cybersecurity measures before another breach occurs.

A Call to Action for District Leaders

School district leaders have the influence and responsibility to drive meaningful change. By prioritizing cybersecurity, advocating for stricter vendor requirements, and fostering a culture of vigilance, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure a safer digital environment for students and staff.

In our next blog, we will outline best practices that every district should implement to strengthen cybersecurity, protect student data, and hold vendors accountable.