Schools across the United States faced significant disruptions Friday following a large-scale cyberattack targeting Canvas, a widely-used learning management system that serves educational institutions nationwide.

The breach affected classroom activities and final examination schedules, forcing educators to scramble for alternative methods to conduct end-of-semester assessments and daily instruction. Canvas is used by millions of students and teachers for online coursework, assignment submissions, and grade management.

According to sources familiar with the situation, some affected school districts have been attempting to establish contact with the hackers responsible for the attack. The exact scope of the breach and the number of institutions affected remains unclear as the situation continues to develop.

The timing of the attack proved particularly disruptive, occurring during final exam periods at many schools when students and teachers rely heavily on digital platforms for testing and grade reporting. Educational institutions were forced to implement backup plans and alternative systems to maintain academic operations.

Canvas, owned by Instructure Inc., has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the security incident or steps being taken to restore service to affected schools.