ETS Data Breach

October 20, 2026

Notice of ETS Student Data Breach

Dear McSwain Families,

We are writing to inform you of a data security incident involving Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization that supports California’s CAASPP and ELPAC assessments. This incident involved student information held by ETS, the state’s testing contractor, and occurred at the state level. It did not originate within McSwain’s systems.

We are sharing this letter and the official Notice of Data Breach to help families understand what happened and access available support.

What happened?

ETS discovered unauthorized activity on September 25, 2026. Its investigation found that an unauthorized party used a compromised login credential to access and copy California student information from an ETS file-transfer site between May 22 and September 18, 2026. The incident affects current and former California students.

What information was involved

The information varies by student and may include names, birth dates, addresses, student identification numbers, demographic information, program participation, disability and accommodation information, and assessment results. According to the official notice, Social Security numbers, financial account information, passwords, and parent or guardian personal information were not involved.

What is being done?

ETS disabled the account, took the affected site offline, and is working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement. ETS reports in its notice that it has not found evidence that the information has been made public. ETS is offering affected students two years of free identity protection through Experian IdentityWorks.

What families can do?

Please review the accompanying official notice for enrollment instructions and additional ways to protect student information. Parents and guardians may enroll affected children under age 18 by March 19, 2027. No credit card is required. Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts, or calls requesting personal information.

For more information, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ets for updates and translated notices. For questions about the incident or identity protection services, call 833-931-8488, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, excluding major U.S. holidays. For students under 18, reference engagement number B174774. Families using TTY may call 711.

We understand that this news may be concerning. Thank you for taking the time to review the notice and the resources available to your family.

Sincerely,
Kamaljit Pannu
Superintendent
McSwain Union Elementary School District