Arlington ISD schools were among thousands nationwide affected by a data breach involving sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, according to a letter sent to some residents in late October. The letter was obtained by the Arlington Report. The breach happened Aug. 14 at Frontline Education, a school administration software company, through one of its third-party software products.
Frontline Education hosts grade books, attendance records, and student and staff data for school districts across the country, including Fort Worth and Lake Worth. A statement on the company's website, posted more than two months after the breach, said it was closed the following day. Roughly 778,000 Texans were affected, according to a data breach notice posted to the Texas attorney general's website.
Arlington ISD spokesperson Taina Northington said in a text message that the district sent emails to impacted staff members and families. Parents received notice Oct. 26, the same day Frontline published its statement. In the letter, the company said it investigated with an independent cybersecurity firm, fixed the vulnerability, contacted law enforcement and strengthened its systems. The Arlington Report has asked whether student information was involved and how many Arlington ISD students, staff and families were affected.