FCC Boosts School Cybersecurity | Computer Science Graduation Requirements | Ed Writers National Seminar

Thomas Rodgers, W/A’s Head of K-12 Communications, is filling in for Ben this week.

I spent last week in Las Vegas with several W/A team members for the Education Writers Association’s National Seminar—an event I look forward to each year as an opportunity to reconnect with friends, clients, and journalists from across the country.?

One of the most notable sessions of the seminar was Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s wide-ranging keynote interview with Erica L. Green of 纽约时报 , covering FAFSA, affirmative action, campus antisemitism, absenteeism, and pandemic learning loss. During what was an occasionally tense interview, Cardona acknowledged the botched Better FAFSA rollout, but rebuffed claims that student loan forgiveness efforts took resources from FAFSA. Read more from Inside Higher Ed 's Katherine Knott .

I always appreciate EWA’s emphasis on local journalism, particularly given the challenges faced by local outlets. Throughout the seminar, the contributions of panelists like Scott Travis from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Howard Blume from the Los Angeles Times and Adam Echelman from CalMatters highlighted the important role that local reporters play in their communities.?

Ronald Reed , and the SXSW EDU team organized a heart-wrenching session with journalists at the Uvalde Leader-News on how they covered the Robb Elementary School shooting and aftermath, including the challenges they faced in balancing sensitivity, trying to get information, and the need for accountability with local government. Their story is also told in a new ABC News documentary, “Paint It Black,” which premiered last month.?

Next year, EWA’s National Seminar heads to St. Louis, so as they say, “Meet Me in St. Louis!”

In this week’s edition of Notes:

• Top 5 Articles of the Week
• FCC Boosts School Cybersecurity
• Colorado Covers College Costs for Low-income Students
• Computer Science as a High School Graduation Requirement

Digital Defense: FCC Boosts School Cybersecurity

What's new: The FCC has approved a three-year, $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program to help educational institutions improve their cybersecurity.

Why it matters: Cyberattacks on schools are escalating—costing districts millions of dollars and causing significant learning disruptions. According to Education Week, 80% of K-12 schools were hit by ransomware last year.

Going deeper: The program is set to provide up to $200 million over three years, sourced from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. Schools and libraries can apply for grants ranging from $15,000 to $1.5 million to cover costs for advanced firewalls, anti-virus protection, and other cybersecurity measures.

• The program aims to assess how effective these investments are and determine the best ways to protect educational institutions. It will help the FCC gather crucial data to inform future decisions on cybersecurity funding for schools and libraries.

The big picture: This move is part of FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s broader Learn Without Limits initiative, which also expanded the E-Rate program to fund Wi-Fi on school buses. The initiative aims to close the digital divide and enhance digital learning environments by providing essential connectivity and security.

Zoom out: Despite the program’s potential, some experts argue that technology alone isn’t enough. In an interview with Education Week, Doug Levin from the K-12 Security Information Exchange highlighted the need for comprehensive solutions beyond just funding technology, saying “It’s leadership. It’s training. It’s capacity. Districts in general are understaffed with respect to technology, but especially with respect to cybersecurity.”

• A recent survey by Clever found that one-third of districts report a lack of dedicated cybersecurity personnel as their biggest challenge. Additionally, 80% of administrators are concerned about phishing attacks, and half of the districts have recently updated their security protocols for vendors, underscoring the urgent need for robust cybersecurity solutions that are built for the unique needs of K-12 classrooms.

Top 5 “What We’re Reading” Articles of the Week

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1. Reaching those who start college applications but don’t enroll [Inside Higher Ed]
2. The State of Career and Technical Education, in Charts [Education Week, subscription model]
3. Funders commit $25 million to support equitable AI advancement [Philanthropy News Digest]
4. Do state assessments need an overhaul? [K-12 Dive]
5. An Early Education Rebound: After COVID Disruptions, Report Shows Pre-K Enrollment Hitting Record Levels [The 74]

Colorado to Cover Two Years of Postsecondary Education for Low-income Students

Colorado made national headlines this week when Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed into law a bill which makes the first two years of college free to families earning less than $90,000. [Inside Higher Ed]

The legislation, Incentives for Postsecondary Education (HB24-1340), sponsored by Reps. Shannon Bird and Rick Taggart and Sens. Barbara Krikmeyer and Rachel Zenzinger created the Colorado Promise: Two Free Years of College Expanded effort and makes two years at a four-year public college, community college, or trade school free.

• The new law creates a refundable state income tax credit for lower-income students and their families to cover the gap between scholarships and the rest of their tuition and fees. [The Denver Post]

In addition to addressing the cost of higher education for the state’s lowest income learners and families, the legislation also aims to keep more Coloradans in the state for their postsecondary education studies.

By the numbers: In 2020, the state found that nearly a quarter of high school graduates left Colorado to pursue higher education in other states.

To qualify for the refundable state income tax credit, a student must:

• Enroll in a Colorado public higher education institution within two years of graduating from a Colorado high school
• Come from a household with a yearly income of less than $90,000
• Take six credit hours for the semester they are claiming the credit
• Have at least a 2.5 GPA for that semester

The credit will be available for income tax years 2024 through 2032.

The new initiative is expected to save $2,700 for students at four-year institutions, $2,000 for students at technical colleges, and $1,000 for students attending two-year colleges.

The Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI) is hosting a Congressional briefing called “Education R&D: Innovating Solutions for Today’s Challenges and Tomorrow’s Opportunities” next week. ALI is gathering federal and state policymakers, field leaders, and researchers to discuss how high-quality research and development (R&D) infrastructure informs and advances evidence-based teachings and learnings that help address today’s biggest challenges in education—and look ahead to the future of education innovation.

Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Time: 9:00 a.m. ET

Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building (50 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002)

Louisiana Becomes 10th State to Add Computer Science to High School Graduation Requirements

Louisiana will require computer science classes for high school graduation, beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2026-2027 school year. Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed House Bill 264 into law on May 23, making Louisiana the 10th state to introduce a computer science graduation requirement.

Zoom out: In July 2023, Code.org launched a policy recommendation for states to require all students to take computer science to earn a high school diploma “to ensure all students genuinely have the opportunity to learn computer science.”

• Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee have passed such a requirement.

Going deeper: South Carolina has had a computer science graduation requirement since 1997, but until 2018 the state allowed for courses such as keyboarding to meet that requirement. Starting in 2016, the state initiated a comprehensive overhaul to meet modern demands. This included developing K-8 computer science standards and revising high school requirements to ensure students have a robust computer science education. In 2018, South Carolina officially mandated a computer science graduation requirement, significantly boosting student participation.

• South Carolina increased the percentage of high schools offering computer science from 43% in 2017-18 to 92% in 2020-21.

The big picture: Louisiana’s new law is part of a broader trend to enhance computer science education across the U.S., preparing students for a future increasingly dominated by technology.

In Memory of Eldred C. Ellis (1938-2024)

The news of Eldred’s passing brings sadness and perspective because we’ve lost a friend and colleague who always considered your perspective first, began each conversation with kindness, and let you know not just that he cared—but how and why he cared about your relationship with him. You felt that deep awareness every time he called you, often just to say, “Hello, friend!” And the more you learned about his story—the international travels, mastery of many languages, musical talents, and niche knowledge —the more you realized that he measured his time in communal experiences and the mindful creation of love and friends. Thank you, Eldred. We were lucky to have you as our role model, and we wish you love for your next experience.

ISTELive 24 Solutions Summit

We’re teaming up with ISTE to co-host the second Solutions Summit, a gathering of senior executives and product leaders who are building solutions in partnership with states, districts, and educators.

The summit will bring together edtech leaders, innovators, and experts from diverse education-focused businesses to share best practices and insights.

This is not a sales and marketing event. It’s about fostering candid conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and the role that edtech can play in addressing some of the field’s most vexing challenges. It’s about forging connections between developers of emerging technology and platforms with the potential to evaluate their efficacy — and take them to scale.

W/A research head and K-12 funding guru David DeSchryver will facilitate a timely conversation about the looming “ESSER cliff” with Dr. Sydnee Dickson , Utah Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Chris Gdowski , Superintendent of the Adams 12 school district.

Fundations Creators Team-Up with the Original DIBELS Authors to Advance Cohesion in Early Literacy Instruction

Literacy program developer Wilson Language Training (Wilson) announced its acquisition of Acadience Learning (Acadience), which develops education tools and assessment solutions. Wilson and Acadience will integrate their evidence-based literacy curriculum with formative assessments to better equip educators with the resources they need to implement science of reading practices and ensure all students master reading and spelling.

High-Dosage Tutoring Paired with EdTech Cut Costs by One Third

A new study by the University of Chicago Education Lab that evaluated a high-dosage tutoring model revealed that incorporating educational technology in place of some tutoring sessions can cut costs by one-third and halve the number of tutors needed while maintaining the same level of effectiveness (equivalent of one to two years of math learning). The University of Chicago Education Lab partnered with Chicago Public Schools, New York City Public Schools, and nonprofit Saga Education on the project.

State Budget News

• West Virginia is projecting an $800 M surplus in tax revenue and will use the August special session to make spending decisions. Gov. Jim Justice (R) recommended funds be directed towards Communities in Schools among other priorities.
• Rhode Island’s revised budget proposal includes a $33.5 M increase to support K-12 schools, above Gov. Daniel McKee’s (D) proposal.
• The Oklahoma House passed the FY 2025 budget with a 2% increase for higher education.

People on the Move

• Common App announced four new members to its Board of Directors, effective July 1. The new members Kim Cook, CEO of the National College Attainment Network; Miguel Costa, Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach at IE University; Descatur Potier, Executive Director of Admissions at Morehouse College; and Sara Strickland, counselor at City Academy Charter School.
• Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller announced on LinkedIn that he has been selected as sole finalist to become the 17th president of the University of Texas.
• Nonprofit 1EdTech appointed Curtiss Barnes as its next CEO. Barnes has 30 years of education industry experience and previously served on 1EdTech’s board of directors.
• Colorado-based nonprofit Prosperity Denver Fund named Rebecca Arno the sole finalist in its search for their next CEO. Arno, who has more than three decades of philanthropy experience, will succeed interim CEO Lauren Sisneros and oversee the Fund’s day-to-day operations.
• Private equity firm Achieve Partners announced Gene Chao as Senior Advisor to lead the firm’s digital transformation platform. Chao previously served as global chairman of IBM’s Automation Services business and is founder and chief executive of GenRe Ventures, a private equity advisory.
• BetterLesson is hiring a Bids and Proposals Manager with experience in the K-12 education industry. Apply here.

Upcoming Events and Convenings

• Gallup + Semafor: The World of Work: The State of the Global Workforce Report Launch Event, June 12 from 9-11:30 a.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
• Jobs for the Future: Building Inclusive Pathways Through Registered Apprenticeship, June 12-13 from 1-3:30 p.m. ET, Virtual
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: EPIC Summer Meeting 2024, June 20 from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
• Course Hero: Education Summit 2024: Teaching for Tomorrow, Today – Shaping the Future of Pedagogy and Ourselves, June 20-21 from 9-12 p.m. PT, Virtual
• Jobs for the Future: Building Inclusive Pathways Through Registered Apprenticeship, June 12-13 from 1-3:30 p.m. ET, Virtual
• National Fund for Workforce Solutions: SHIFT Toward an Equitable Future 2024, September 24-26, Memphis, TN

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