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U.S. districts experience a sharp rise in breaches and widening gaps in student identity protection as AI risks accelerate faster than they can respond
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clever, the identity platform used by more than 77% of U.S. K-12 schools to simplify and secure digital learning, today released its Cybersecure 2026 Report, an annual survey examining how district leaders are experiencing, responding to, and preparing for evolving cyber threats.
Based on responses from nearly 500 U.S. K-12 administrators and technology professionals, the report finds that cybersecurity incidents have become a persistent operating condition for school systems. In 2025, 52% of U.S. districts experienced a cybersecurity incident, up significantly from years prior ( 36% in 2024 and 31% in 2023). For the millions of students heading to class each morning, these statistics translate into disrupted lessons, locked learning apps, and compromised personal data.
The report also highlights a growing reality of shared risk across the K-12 ecosystem. Vendor-related incidents rose sharply from 4% in 2023 to 32% in 2025, reflecting the increasing concentration of data and workflows in widely used platforms โ and the cascading impact when a single incident affects many districts at once. A single vendor breach can cascade across hundreds of districts simultaneously, turning what looks like one company's problem into a school-day disruption for millions of families.
"There's a growing acceptance in K-12 that cybersecurity incidents are, unfortunately, part of the landscape now," said Eric Hileman, Executive Director, IT Services, of Oklahoma City Public Schools. "What's different in education is that when something happens, districts tend to help each other instead of going silent. That collaboration is baked into the culture."
Other key findings from the Cybersecure 2026 Report include:
"Schools are no longer planning for theoretical cybersecurity incidents, they are planning for attacks that they know will happen," said Trish Sparks, CEO of Clever. "Schools need security solutions built for how they actually operate - with complex systems and limited resources, keeping student data privacy as a top priority."
To learn more about how districts are navigating identity security, cyber insurance mandates, and AI-era threats, read the full Cybersecure 2026 Report here.
About Clever
Clever is on a mission to connect every student to a world of learning. More than 77% of U.S. K-12 schools use Clever to power secure digital learning experiences. With Clever's layered security solutions, districts can protect access and identities for staff, teachers, and students. Clever is a Kahoot! company with an office in San Francisco, CA. Learn more at clever.com.
Media Contact
Kayla Kelly
kayla@whiteboardadvisors.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-finds-one-in-two-us-school-districts-experienced-a-cybersecurity-incident-in-2025-302709821.html
SOURCE Clever
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