Every day, our schools dedicate themselves to fostering safe, supportive environments where students can excel academically and grow personally. A rising, often invisible threat now undermines this mission: cyberattacks targeting K–12 schools are on the rise, disrupting instruction, jeopardizing sensitive data, and straining already limited resources.
At a time when our schools need enhanced support, recent federal decisions have reduced vital funding and staffing for the agencies responsible for delivering critical cybersecurity assistance and guidance to school districts like yours.
As leaders, educators, parents, and community members nationwide, we share a profound concern over these decisions, which undermine schools’ ability to protect students, staff, and learning environments from growing cyber threats. We urge our nation’s policymakers to restore and strengthen federal support for K–12 cybersecurity and educational technology leadership, ensuring that our schools are equipped to face the challenges of today’s digital world.
The Impact on Our Schools
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Act (CISA) and the Office of Educational Technology (OET) at the U.S. Department of Education have played a critical role in providing guidance and resources to help school districts navigate rising cyber threats and adapt to rapidly evolving technology. Recent budget cuts have resulted in the defunding of CISA’s K-12 cybersecurity programs and the elimination of key staff positions. Of particular concern is the discontinuation of vital services offered through the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MC-ISAC). These services, which included real-time threat intelligence, incident response assistance, and coordination tools were critical for school districts without a dedicated cybersecurity team. Simultaneous elimination of staffing at the OET has removed essential national leadership on the safe, effective, and equitable use of technology in schools. Without federal leadership and resources, schools are left increasingly vulnerable, with a diminished capacity to protect students, staff, and critical data.
The petition launched by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) calls on federal leaders to:
- Restore dedicated funding for CISA’s K–12 cybersecurity initiatives, including full access to MS-ISAC services and resources that help public school districts prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
- Reinstate staffing within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, ensuring continued federal leadership, strategic guidance, and support on the effective, safe, and equitable use of educational technology.
- Increase targeted federal investments in cybersecurity infrastructure and services, focusing on schools in rural and underserved communities that face the greatest challenges.
We cannot secure the future of learning without securing the systems that support it. Let’s act now to ensure every school is equipped to protect and empower every student in the digital age.
