Cybersecurity best practices were the focus of this work and their use within the public school system. The problem of this study centered on the cybersecurity barriers Texas Independent School Districts faced during implementation. The educational system saw ransomware spread across the state, and without the implementation of best practices,…

With the growth in digital teaching and learning, there has been a sharp rise in the number of cybersecurity attacks on K-12 school networks. This has demonstrated a need for security technologies and cybersecurity education. This study examined security technologies used, effective security practices, challenges, concerns, and wish list of…

Since 1993, at the regional level, the Minnesota Education Technology Networks (METN), a cooperative of regional networks, provides regional network development, support and leadership to Minnesota school districts. METN member cooperatives provide network coordination, procurement, and other support to help school districts acquire and manage…

Connecticut is committed to ensuring scalable, high-performance, cost-efficient broadband to its public schools and libraries. The Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology (Commission), created in 2000, serves as the educational technology advisor to schools, libraries, and institutions of higher education and started with a mission to…

The 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) created the Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) authorizing the Office of Education Technology (OET) within the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to provide internet access to all school districts. One of the key components included in the legislation was the development of a technology…

Encryption based ransomware operates by iterating through all files with specific extensions on the computer and mutating them into an unusable form. The mutation, in many cases, can only be reversed if the user pays the operator of the ransomware a fee to get their files back. K-12 school districts have fallen victim to rampant malware as a…

The purpose of this document is to provide timely and useful best practice information to help education agencies proactively prepare for, appropriately mitigate, and responsibly recover from a cybersecurity incident. This resource reflects lessons learned by the education community and provides recommendations that will help agencies protect…

Schools (public and nonpublic) and school districts face a myriad of challenging hazards and threats. In addition to natural hazards, technological hazards, and biological hazards, they now have to prepare for human-caused cyber threats. These incidents can be accidental or deliberate and disrupt education and critical operations; expose sensitive…

Internet connectivity has become a critical resource for teaching and learning. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is a prime example, with schools expected to implement online assessments and use online resources for instruction. Yet there is little known about the extent to which local education agencies (LEAs) and schools are taking…

This guide provides practical, actionable information intended to help both technical personnel and educational leaders navigate the many decisions required to deliver broadband connectivity to students. It presents a variety of options for school and district leaders to consider when making technology infrastructure decisions, recognizing that…

To provide students with the education they need to thrive in a globally connected world, schools and school districts need to find ways to design, fund, acquire, and maintain the infrastructure that will make connectivity a reality for every teacher and student in every classroom. The U.S. Department of Education's National Educational Technology…

A multiple-case qualitative study of five school districts that had implemented various large-scale technology initiatives was conducted to describe what superintendents do to gain acceptance of those initiatives. The large-scale technology initiatives in the five participating districts included 1:1 District-Provided Device laptop and tablet…

In addition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), California is implementing a new, online assessment system: the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Field tests were conducted last spring and the system is being rolled out this year, amid concerns about whether schools are technologically prepared. Using…

Setting up a wireless network is easy enough. Place a few access points in strategic areas, then watch the network traffic fly! That approach may hold up reasonably well for a few dozen users, but there's no way it would support a schoolwide 1-to-1 program. Once students take to it with their wireless devices, "they're going to kill it,"…

In 2004, prior to the launch of their 1-to-1 laptop program, the superintendent expressed some anxiety about the prospect of radically changing teaching and learning by issuing a laptop computer to every student and teacher. Although the concept was exciting, it carried big risks and would take time and thorough planning to execute well. Even with…