Does your child use PowerSchool products, including Schoology, Naviance, Performance Matters or SchoolMessenger? Attorneys are investigating potential violations of your family’s data privacy. Fill out the form to find out more »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Hagens Berman’s data privacy legal team has filed a class-action lawsuit against PowerSchool Holdings Inc., which owns the products Schoology, Naviance, Performance Matters and SchoolMessenger, for allegedly violating student users’ data privacy. Attorneys believe that these software platforms, which are used by over 45 million students globally, collect highly sensitive personal data from children including their educational records and all their activities and communications while using the software.
WHO IS AFFECTED?
The lawsuit defines the proposed class as all persons in the U.S. who attended a K-12 school or school district that used PowerSchool products or services. If you or your child have used any PowerSchool product, including Schoology, Naviance, Performance Matters or SchoolMessenger, you may be impacted. Fill out the form to find out your rights.
WHAT DATA DOES POWERSCHOOL COLLECT?
According to reports, PowerSchool may collect the following sensitive personal information from student users in what attorneys have deemed a “data-harvesting scheme” aimed at K-12 schoolchildren:
- Citizenship status
- Religious affiliation
- School disciplinary records
- Medical diagnoses
- Reading and typing speed
- Full text of answers given on tests
- Whether they live in a two-parent household
- Whether they have used drugs, been the victim of a violent crime or expressed interest LGBTQ+ student groups, among hundreds of other data points
ABOUT THE LAWSUIT VS. POWERSCHOOL
The lawsuit accuses PowerSchool of carrying out unlawful behavior “which systematically violates the fundamental rights of children and their families by collecting and monetizing their personal information without effective consent.”
According to the lawsuit, PowerSchool, without effective consent, collects, stores, analyzes, and shares students’ sensitive data, which it acquires through its educational technology products that it sells to schools and school districts. The collected information, attorneys say, it “virtually unlimited.”
“PowerSchool collects this highly sensitive information under the guise of educational support, but in fact collects it for its own commercial gain,” the complaint states, detailing that it sells this sensitive data to third parties to great profit: “PowerSchool has built a billion-dollar corporation by collecting and exploiting the information of children in compulsory education environments.”
YOUR CHILD’S RIGHT TO PRIVACY
PowerSchool products are commonly used by elementary and high school students and their parents in your community. We believe these products may violate your family’s rights and are taking action to help protect you and your family. You may have rights under the law and may be affected by the active litigation against PowerSchool.
TOP HIGH TECH AND DATA PRIVACY LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful plaintiffs’ litigation firms in the U.S. and has achieved settlements valued at more than $320 billion in lawsuits against big tech companies, big banks and other powerful entities. Hagens Berman is currently one of the firms chosen to finalize a settlement with T-Mobile for its 2021 data breach, in which the carrier has agreed to pay $350 million to customers whose sensitive personal information was compromised by the company’s alleged negligence. Your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in the areas of tech, data privacy and consumer rights litigation.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team for the class.
