The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a new report and toolkit for K-12 institutions to help them better protect against cybersecurity threats.

Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) was forced to close and halt instruction for two days this week after it suffered from a cyberattack, according to the Iowa school district.  

In 2022, state and Federal policymakers significantly accelerated their efforts to help K-12 institutions across the U.S. shore up their cybersecurity defenses, a new report by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) says.

New research has found that 96 percent of apps used in K-12 schools send student data to third parties, including advertisers.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a Nov. 16 report that Federal agencies need to up their ransomware assistance for state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government organizations – including schools – by improving interagency collaboration, awareness, outreach, communication, and coordination with schools.

The United States K-12 sector saw a three percent increase in cybersecurity maturity from 2021 to 2022 with schools generally performing well in identity management and access control, awareness and training, and business environment. 

A Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) funded diversity program has expanded to 10 additional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) after its initial launch last year, according to a Sept. 21 press release from CYBER.ORG.

The University of Florida (UF) is collaborating with 11 school districts across the Sunshine State to pilot a K-12 artificial intelligence (AI) education program this fall, according to a UF news release from Sept. 22.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded another round of funding for its Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) on Oct. 19. The $78 million will benefit approximately 175,000 students, bringing the total of those awarded with broadband services and devices to over 14 million.

Federal officials urged state and local government and education leaders this week to focus on some of the Federal government’s top existing resources in the fight against ransomware attacks – including one principle that’s easy to say but harder to do – don’t meet ransom demands.