On Wednesday, January 8, the following message was shared with UCFSD staff, parents and guardians:

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,

I am writing to share an important update regarding a cybersecurity incident recently disclosed by PowerSchool, a platform widely used by school districts, including Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD). On January 7, 2025, our district, along with numerous others, was notified by PowerSchool that unauthorized access to certain data from our Student Information System (SIS) had occurred through its community-focused customer support portal, PowerSource.

PowerSchool has confirmed that a compromised credential was used to access the UCFSD student and teacher directory data. While their investigation is ongoing, there is currently no evidence that the data has been misused or shared publicly. We will remain in close communication with PowerSchool and communicate as new findings emerge.

Here are the steps PowerSchool has taken since the incident:

1. Incident Containment: PowerSchool has isolated the unauthorized access to the PowerSource portal and reports no evidence of malware or continued activity in their systems.
2. Working with Experts: They have collaborated with industry-leading cybersecurity response teams to identify and diagnose the compromised account, ensuring a thorough understanding of the incident.
3. Strengthened Security Measures: PowerSchool has deactivated the compromised credential, implemented a complete password reset, and enhanced access controls for the affected portal.
4. Verification of Containment: PowerSchool has verified that the incident has been contained, with no evidence of malware or ongoing unauthorized activity.
5. Engagement with Law Enforcement: PowerSchool has engaged third-party cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement to investigate and address the breach.

The security of our community’s information is a top priority. We take this incident very seriously and are working with PowerSchool to mitigate any potential risks. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Justin Webb, Director of Technology, via email at jwebb@ucfsd.net. Questions will be collected and a FAQ will be posted on the district website beginning Friday, January 10.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support as we navigate this challenging situation.

Sincerely,
Justin Webb
Director of Technology