$17M Student Data Breach Settlement May Benefit Lower Merion Families

LOWER MERION, PA — Students at Lower Merion Schools who used Naviance software may qualify for part of a proposed $17.25 million settlement from a class-action lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed in 2023 against several educational-software companies — including PowerSchool, which owns Naviance — and Chicago Public Schools, claiming the defendants improperly collected and shared students' confidential communications while using Naviance.

Several Lower Merion School District families received emails about the settlement over Easter weekend. The emails appear to be legitimate, according to district officials.

A $17.25 million settlement agreement was reached earlier this year, pending court approval. The funds could be divided among more than 10 million families.

Students across the country who used Naviance from Aug. 18, 2021, through Jan. 23 of this year may qualify to benefit from the settlement, according to a website with guidance on the legal agreement.

Naviance is a K-12 platform that partners with schools to help students prepare for life after graduation, including college and career readiness. Over 40 million students have used Naviance, according to PowerSchool.

Lower Merion Schools currently use Naviance. Last month, the district proposed moving from Naviance to Scoir, a different post-secondary planning platform.

To qualify for settlement earnings, individuals must submit a claim form by July 27.

A final court hearing on the proposed settlement is set for Aug. 19 in Chicago.

PowerSchool has denied wrongdoing throughout the case. A company spokesperson says PowerSchool and its co-defendants entered the settlement to "avoid the uncertainty, distraction, and expense of continued litigation."

"We do not sell student data, we do not collect, maintain, use, or share student personal information beyond what is authorized by the district, parent, or student," the spokesperson said in a statement.

For more information, visit the settlement website and the recent announcement from Lower Merion Schools.