Issues surrounding students' data and schools' use of educational technology (EdTech) are in the spotlight as school boards in six provinces respond to a "significant cyberattack" on an administration software platform.
According to CTV, the company PowerSchool informed school districts that "hackers infiltrated its systems using a compromised credential to gain access to one of their portals, PowerSource." The infiltration happened between Dec. 19 and 23, 2024. The breach "may have compromised sensitive personal information of students including names, addresses, health card numbers and medical details" as well as "personal and sensitive information," of staff.
The news is unsettling. Parents and caregivers know that today, for a child's schooling, they or their child must deal with an EdTech service for communication, homework, scheduling, exams or general learning tasks. "Learning management systems," web-based technology for different aspects of learning, are becoming ubiquitous in today's schools.
The data-hungry design of the EdTech systems makes upholding the privacy of young people very challenging. Schools' use of these technologies has already come under scrutiny in Ontario and beyond.
In Ontario and elsewhere, we need reforms that give decision-makers at the appropriate levels the power to bring robust democratic oversight to EdTech in schools.
