NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: January 19, 2018
JACKSON, Miss. – Questar Assessment Inc., the Mississippi statewide assessment vendor, confirmed late Thursday that the company experienced a data breach affecting Mississippi and New York. Questar administers Mississippi’s statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics, Algebra I and English II.
Questar stated Friday that its preliminary analysis of the incident showed that an unauthorized user accessed the information of two districts and three schools in Mississippi. The data viewed was related to computer-based test takers in spring and fall 2016.
Questar was still investigating the matter late Friday and could not provide additional details; however, Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, has notified the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
“We take seriously the protection of student information, and any violation of privacy is absolutely unacceptable. We are actively pursuing immediate corrective action from Questar,” she said.
The MDE does not share student addresses and social security numbers with Questar; and therefore, this information was not accessible. The MDE will share additional details publicly when they become available.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519