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IL Education Dept. Laptops Swiped
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Illinois Department of Education reports two laptop computers containing information on 7,800 special education students and 2,600 teachers from 42 suburban Chicago school districts have been stolen.

Department spokesman Matt Vanover said Friday the laptops, owned by an employee of a state contractor, were stolen June 8 from a car at a Palatine hotel.

Vanover said the theft was reported to local police. No arrests have been made but the department doesn't believe the information on the computers has been used by the thieves.

Vanover said the contractor has mailed letters to those whose names and information is on the computers, which are password protected. The information included Social Security numbers for some employees and a handful of students.

Officials say Education Department information-handling policies are being changed.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 18 11 by Newsroom
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