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Heidi Payter, hpayter@fratelli.com, 202-822-9491

CoSN Reveals 2020 Cybersecurity Policy Trends in New Report; Calls for Increased Government Support This Year to Meet School District Needs
Washington, D.C. (January 29, 2021) – CoSN today released a new policy report revealing 2020 trends in cybersecurity legislation and calling for additional government support in 2021 to ensure that school districts can protect their networks, students and staff from future cyberattacks.

The report, designed for edtech leaders and policymakers, highlights the importance of digital safety due to the increased role of remote and blended learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the trend is likely to continue for years to come.
“Cybersecurity attacks on school systems are an epidemic and a serious threat to remote learning and protecting student data. With this critical new report, CoSN aims to help both K-12 edtech leaders and federal and state policymakers navigate a path forward that more effectively thwarts and mitigates cyberattacks in education. Protecting student and educator data must be top of mind, and good policies and practices are essential,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. 
In the report, “2020 State and Federal Cybersecurity Policy Trends: Insights for Education Technology Leaders & Policymakers,” CoSN provides analysis on the nearly 100 cybersecurity bills introduced by 27 states, Washington, D.C. and the federal government in 2020 — 10 of which became law. The states that passed cybersecurity legislation last year include Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Virginia.
While state legislatures took a variety of approaches, 2020 cybersecurity bills specifically addressing K-12 education risks focused on providing:
  • Cybersecurity instruction to students;
  • Technical assistance to schools; and
  • Investments in technology improvements and professional development.
Common strategies and tools in the federal proposals included:
  • Building a cyber workforce;
  • Expanding awareness and training;
  • Investing in technology; and
  • Further studying the K-12 cyber-landscape. 
The full Cybersecurity Policy Trends report is available for the public to download here. Learn more about CoSN’s cybersecurity work at cosn.org/cybersecurity.

The Cybersecurity Policy Trends report was made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is the first in a series of annual reports.
About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. cosn.org
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