RPS expands identity monitoring after data appears on dark web

Richmond Public Schools says some personal information was included in a dark-web posting after it discovered computer-system disruptions on Oct. 21, 2026. The district expanded its free identity-monitoring offer to former students and former employees.

RPS began offering monitoring to current students and employees on Oct. 23. Its Nov. 11 announcement extended eligibility to former students and former employees; a formal notice dated Nov. 12 sets Feb. 26, 2027, as the enrollment deadline and provides separate instructions for adults and minors.

RPS said threat actors claimed to have accessed or acquired information about current and former students, staff and contractors. The notice lists names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s-license and Social Security numbers, passport and military identification numbers, benefits information including health-insurance numbers, and limited medical information as categories that may have been in affected systems. It cautions that the categories may not apply to every person. RPS has not identified which individuals’ records or specific details were exposed or disclosed how many people were affected.

The notice offers free Experian monitoring and lists an incident line at 877-753-3334, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. RPS says it is cooperating with the FBI, Virginia State Police’s Virginia Cyber Fusion Center and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as the investigation and technology recovery continue.