Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has been awarded nearly $4 million from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to significantly upgrade the district’s cybersecurity defenses. The funding is for a pilot project being launched by the FCC in several school districts. JCPS’s Information Technology department will be putting systems and services in place to protect staff and student information and bolster the district’s overall cybersecurity.
“This award is a big deal for us,” said Dr. Brian Yearwood, JCPS superintendent. “Our IT professionals are always vigilant and working to prevent attacks that cybercriminals across the globe are using to disrupt the work of schools, teachers, and staff. This will allow us to add digital protections for our JCPS computer systems and the people who use them.”
With cyber threats targeting K-12 schools on the rise, these critical information systems are at constant risk. The award will allow JCPS to implement systems, processes, and new cybersecurity tools that will help the district’s IT team combat sophisticated criminal networks and minimize harm should a breach occur.
“We are grateful to the FCC for their vision in supporting school districts with cybersecurity challenges, and we are excited for the opportunity JCPS has to be a leader and demonstrate the effectiveness of this program,” said Eric Satterly, Chief Information Officer of JCPS.
The total award for the pilot program is $3,781,671 over three years. The FCC awarded a total of $200 million to school districts across the country for similar pilot projects. JCPS was one of the few to receive the full amount requested.
“We have a population that doesn’t have a voice in how their information is protected, and that’s the students,” said Raghu Seshadri, JCPS Executive Administrator for Information Security. “So, as we are educating them, we have an obligation to make sure that we are protecting everything else around them. It’s a moral obligation.”
Michael Klein, from the Institute for Security and Technology (IST), said he is excited about JCPS securing funding for the cybersecurity pilot project and believes success at JCPS will help demonstrate the importance of the FCC’s programs investing in K-12 cybersecurity.
“This particular program, the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, is uniquely positioned to address the cybersecurity challenges facing schools, especially the scourge of ransomware that’s really been hitting America’s school districts over the last five years,” Klein said.
IST is a non-profit think tank that unites technology and policy leaders to combat emerging security challenges.