Washington, D.C., October 22, 2026 – National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues released the following statement after the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an urgent warning about two critical vulnerabilities in software services that could impact school districts nationwide:
“The National Parents Union calls on federal and state leaders to prioritize proactive school cybersecurity protections and ensure that every district has the resources and expertise necessary to keep students’ information secure and schools operating safely.
Our schools hold some of the most sensitive information about our children and families, including student records, health information, disability services, and personal identifying information.Yet too often, school districts are left to respond to emerging cyber threats without the dedicated personnel, technical expertise, or financial resources necessary to prevent attacks before they happen.
We need to move beyond a reactive approach to school cybersecurity. That means sustained federal and state investments in modern technology infrastructure, routine security assessments, timely software updates, stronger data protections, workforce training, and access to cybersecurity specialists, particularly for rural and under-resourced school districts.
We also need stronger coordination among federal agencies, states, school districts, and technology providers to ensure that critical security alerts translate into immediate, actionable protections for students and educators.
Protecting our children in the digital age means protecting the systems that serve them. Families should not have to wait for a major data breach or a school shutdown before policymakers recognize cybersecurity as an essential investment in public education.”
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 2,200 affiliated parent organizations and 2 million members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/