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.

Five months after launching the K-12 Digital Mapping Program, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced over 1,000 schools and 85 school divisions have committed to using Collaborative Response Graphics (CRGs) technology as digital mapping tools to better aid first responders in the event of an emergency.

The nation’s second largest school district is still recovering from a ransomware attack that took place over a month ago. In an Oct. 2 update, Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Superintendent Albert Carvalho said the syndicate group responsible for the cyberattack has leaked the stolen data.

Days before this legislative session ends, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will require K-12 school districts to report cyberattacks that impact over 500 students.

A recent report on edtech app usage in more than 100 K-12 school districts suggests that the introduction of the technology has established new security vulnerabilities and a need to tighten students’ data privacy practices.