Web breach leaks student's information

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - A security breach in a Central Texas school district caused a student's personal information to be leaked on the Internet, officials say.

School officials sent a letter Tuesday notifying parents in the Leander Independent School District about the incident.

"We have every reason to believe that the person's primary interest was in one student's records," said Dick Ellis with LISD. "However, confidential information about students may have been visible."

The district sent the letter to parents of students in Special Education Services letting them know one of the student's information was accessed illegally.

"One individual gained unauthorized electronic access to confidential information," said Superintendent Bret Champion .

The electronic records accessed are protected by federal law and are only available to authorized school district employees.

"LISD received information that there was an incident of unauthorized Web access to certain students' electronic education records," said Champion. "These electronic records are protected by federal law."

According to the letter sent out to parents, the district is working with third-party experts to enhance security.

The superintendent also said it does not appear the person who accessed the records had motives related to identity theft.

Ellis would not say if the student's social security number was leaked and said school district officials could not comment further because of the criminal investigation.