Dear PUHSD families,
By now you may have seen news reports about a data breach involving Educational Testing Service (ETS), the nonprofit organization that administers California's statewide student assessments under contract with the state. We are writing so that you hear what we know directly from us.
What happened:
ETS has confirmed that an unauthorized person accessed its systems between May and September of this year and copied files containing student information from districts across California, including Placer Union High School District. The breach occurred in ETS's systems. PUHSD's own systems were not breached.
What information was involved:
The files may include a student's name, date of birth, home address, school, grade level, and state assessment results. They did not include Social Security numbers, financial information, passwords, or parent information.
Has the information been misused?
ETS and the California Department of Education report that there is currently no evidence the information has been made public or misused. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as we learn more.
What you can do
- ETS is offering two years of free identity protection through Experian IdentityWorks to every affected student, with enrollment open through March 19, 2027 and no credit card required. Please note: if you receive a call, text, or email asking for personal or financial information about this incident, do not respond. Enrollment in the free monitoring never requires a credit card.
- A dedicated call center is available at 833-931-8488, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. When you call, provide engagement number B174774 for students under 18. The state's full FAQ and resources are at www.cde.ca.gov/ets
A note about scams:
Scammers are already using this news to send fake messages. PUHSD and ETS will never ask for your password or financial information, so treat any message that does as a scam.
PUHSD does not have access to individual breach records or Experian enrollment information and cannot verify whether a specific student was affected or help with enrollment.
We know news like this is unsettling, especially when it involves our students. Protecting student information remains a priority for Placer Union High School District, and we will continue sharing relevant updates as additional verified information becomes available.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update,
Placer Union High School District
