CPS mistakenly emails private data of thousands of students, including names, phone numbers

Chicago Public Schools mistakenly emails private data of thousands of students, including names, phone numbers


Chicago Public Schools officials have apologized after an employee emailed private student information to more than 3,700 families on Friday, an error described to families as “an unacceptable breach of both student information and your trust.”

The information, which included names, email addresses, phone numbers and student ID numbers, was sent to families who were invited to submit supplemental applications to selective enrollment schools, said an email sent Friday evening from Tony Howard, executive director of CPS’ Department of Education Policy and Procedures.

“We sincerely apologize for this unintended disclosure and ask that you please delete the information in question,” the email read. “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.”

The school district also said it would be removing the employee responsible from the employee’s position, “because violating your privacy is unacceptable to the district,” according to Howard.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-public-schools-data-breach-20180616-story.html