May 8, 2026

Dear Garland ISD Families,

We are writing to inform you that Canvas, one of the software systems used by Garland ISD, has been impacted by a nationwide cybersecurity breach currently under investigation.

Canvas is a digital learning platform for sixth through twelfth-grade students in GISD. Students and parents can find coursework, calendars, schedules, learning materials, and more. 

At this time, we do not know the full extent of the incident or whether any information connected to the district has been accessed or compromised. Canvas and GISD Technology are actively investigating. Please know that more sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses and passwords, is not stored within Canvas and was not impacted by this incident.

Although we do not yet have confirmation that any specific student, parent, or staff information has been affected, we believe it is important to keep our families informed as we learn more.

Assignments in Canvas

Students will not be penalized for assignments impacted by the outage. Campuses and teachers will work together to make appropriate adjustments, including alternative methods for accessing and submitting assignments as needed.

Grades

Grades are finalized and maintained in Skyward, a separate system unaffected by this outage. We encourage all families to check Skyward for the most up-to-date grade information as we approach the end of the year.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Stay alert for phishing scams. Please use caution with emails that mention your student by name or reference their school email address. Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages claiming to come from Canvas or Garland ISD.
   
• We recommend updating passwords as a precaution. Families may choose to have their student change their Garland ISD password for added security. Student password changes must be coordinated with campus-level technology staff.
   
• Report any suspicious activity. If your student receives any unusual communications, please have them report it to their campus-level technology staff so they can submit a service ticket on their behalf.
• For recommended actions for all users, please review TEA’s press release online.

We understand that situations like this can be concerning, and we appreciate your patience and understanding while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further information as it becomes available.

Thank you,

Garland ISD