New pilot raises awareness of cybersecurity careers and equips K-12 students in D.C.’s public, private, and charter schools with foundational skills
BOSSIER CITY, La.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, CYBER.ORG – an academic initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center – announced its cybersecurity workforce development pilot program taking place within the D.C. School District. The six-week program runs from June 23rd -August 1st with participation from Ballou High school, Cesar Chavez Public Charter School, and Archbishop Carroll Private School.
The initiative introduces students to cybersecurity fundamentals such as coding and cyber defense, offers hands-on experience with real-world scenarios, and highlights pathways to industry certifications and higher education.
In collaboration with local leaders, workforce development organizations, and elected officials, CYBER.ORG aims to build a strong pipeline for future growth, including summer youth employment opportunities. Designed to be both scalable and adaptable, the model can move from school to school and be implemented in districts nationwide – from rural areas to major metro regions – to help close the cybersecurity workforce gap. The United States currently has only enough cybersecurity professionals to fill 74% of open roles, with more than 514,000 cyber-related job listings posted between May 2024 and April 2025.
“Our D.C. Revenue Bond Program supports educational initiatives across all levels. We have successfully closed several bonds with both public charter and private schools throughout the city. Cybersecurity programs are helping to develop a critical and in-demand workforce that we aim to expand within the district. These programs play a key role in enhancing the city’s capacity to build a diverse and skilled talent pipeline,” said William A. Liggins, director of D.C. Revenue Bond Program. “We look forward to evaluating the impact of this summer’s cyber program and how it will be integrated into school curricula in the upcoming academic year. The vision is for these initiatives to equip students with the training needed to obtain both entry-level and advanced certifications in the field.”
Most participating students are also enrolled in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). A majority of these students have committed to enrolling in cyber education classes under the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Program for elective credit in the SY 25-26 fall semester.
“With education largely shaped at the state level, CYBER.ORG is committed to serving as a flexible resource that can be tailored to meet the unique, local needs of any district,” said Charlene Cooper, interim executive director of CYBER.ORG. “What begins this summer is just the first step in a longer journey. Early demand has already exceeded expectations, with communities eager to bring cybersecurity education to more students and schools. We’re working closely with D.C. to build a model that evolves over multiple academic cycles, incorporates real-time learnings, and lays the foundation for district-wide implementation.”
To learn more about CYBER.ORG and replicating this program at your school, visit https://cyber.org/.
About CYBER.ORG
CYBER.ORG is a cybersecurity workforce development organization advancing K-12 cybersecurity education nationwide through no-cost curriculum and teacher professional development resources. Supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency through the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP) grant. CYBER.ORG provides educators and caregivers with resources and training to teach cybersecurity education to K-12 students nationwide. Today, over 30,000 teachers across all 50 states and four U.S. territories are enrolled in the CYBER.ORG’s content platform. As an affiliate of the Cyber Innovation Center, CYBER.ORG is committed to reaching over 50,000 educators by 2029, impacting over six million students nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.cyber.org.
Contacts
Media Contact:
CYBER.ORG
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