Educational Testing Service data breach may impact millions of students, officials say

In Data Breach News, News
October 20, 2026

CBS News reports:

The California Department of Education (CDE) on Friday disclosed the breach involving the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which is under contract to provide state and federally required testing to all students enrolled in the state’s public schools. 

ETS provides support for the state’s assessment programs, including the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California.

On Sept. 25, ETS found unauthorized activity involving a secure file transfer protocol site used to exchange California statewide assessment information with the California Department of Education. After taking the site offline, ETS launched an investigation with the help of outside cybersecurity experts.

Investigators determined that hackers used a compromised login credential to access the site and copy files containing California student information between May 22 and Sept. 18.

Read more at CBS News.