Privacy Concerns in Fairfax
Update (1/05/26 ): Fairfax County homeschool families affected by the recent privacy breach should expect no further communication from Hazel Health.
Today, FCPS provided an update on its investigation. The division confirmed that it worked with Hazel Heath to ensure that all directory information related to homeschool families has been destroyed. FCPS also indicates that it is updating its data-sharing protocols related to homeschool families to prevent similar incidents in the future.
FCPS apologized and assured HEAV that no further communication from Hazel Health will occur.
For additional steps families may consider to help protect their privacy, please see HEAV’s recent post: Privacy Concerns Summation: NOVA
Following the original notice about concerns in Fairfax County, Prince William County homeschoolers began reporting the same experience.
ATTENTION FAIRFAX COUNTY HOMESCHOOLERS:
HEAV has received several privacy concerns from parents regarding a text message they received from Hazel Health, an FCPS telehealth partner headquartered in San Francisco, California. The text message suggests the company may have access to information—including cell phone numbers—submitted to FCPS by families protected under the homeschool privacy law, § 22.1-254.1(G). Parents are understandably concerned about their family’s safety and statutorily protected privacy rights.
Following these reports, HEAV immediately contacted FCPS leadership to request a prompt investigation and a status update. We also alerted the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), continuing our collaborative work to protect the safety and privacy of homeschool families across the Commonwealth.
What’s Next?
Please report all messages received from Hazel Health by forwarding them to support@heav.org. HEAV will provide updates to the community as events unfold. In the interim, we encourage parents to retain all messages received from Hazel Health and document all correspondence with public school officials.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at 804-278-9200.
