"CISA Funds Expanding Access to Cybersecurity Programs at HBCUs, K-12 Schools"

Scams, attacks, and disinformation campaigns are increasingly targeting black communities across the US, thus prompting several initiatives to address the problem. CYBER.ORG, a workforce development organization, aims to address the issue through Project REACH, a feeder program designed to recruit K-12 students to pursue undergraduate cybersecurity degrees and strengthen the US cybersecurity workforce. The program was developed with funding from the US Homeland Security Department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to fill the more than 760,000 cybersecurity positions currently available and to raise awareness about cybersecurity issues in general. Project REACH began last year with a National Security Agency (NSA)-funded pilot at Grambling State University. Cybersecurity lessons were integrated into the curricula of three Louisiana high schools: Woodlawn High School, Huntington High School, and Southwood High School. According to Corisma Akins, cyber education specialist at CYBER.ORG, the goal was to improve students' foundational and technical cybersecurity skills, with an additional goal of increasing interest in Grambling State University's cybersecurity program. Project REACH improves access to cybersecurity education, resources to help students improve their cybersecurity skills, and opportunities to help students connect the dots to pursue cybersecurity careers. A recent study discovered that students in small and high-poverty school districts are significantly less likely to be exposed to cybersecurity education, resulting in considerably fewer pathways to entry into this critical field of study for lower-income and minority students. According to the same study, less than half of all K-12 classrooms in the US provide cybersecurity education. Akins explained that the expansion of Project REACH would help raise awareness of and access to cybersecurity education for black K-12 students, noting that the initiative includes outreach to educate black communities about cybersecurity. This article continues to discuss the goals and structure of Project REACH.

The Record reports "CISA Funds Expanding Access to Cybersecurity Programs at HBCUs, K-12 Schools"