The Invisible Threat to Our Classrooms
Ohio’s schools face a relentless enemy. Cybercriminals target student records, staff data, and fragile defenses, launching ransomware and phishing attacks that can paralyze education. Governor Mike DeWine’s TechGuard initiative, announced recently, equips K-12 schools with training to spot these threats. As someone passionate about every child’s right to a secure learning environment, I applaud this effort. Yet, it’s only a first step in a much larger battle.
The risks are staggering. A single breach can expose sensitive information, disrupt classes, and drain school budgets. TechGuard, backed by CyberOhio and the Department of Education and Workforce, offers over 1,300 training modules to empower educators and students. While Ohio’s commitment is clear, local programs alone cannot protect every school from a global crisis. A robust national strategy is essential to safeguard all students.
The Limits of State-Led Defenses
TechGuard delivers tailored training, helping everyone from teachers to custodians recognize phishing scams. Evidence supports this approach: regular training cuts security incidents by up to 70 percent. Ohio’s use of the NIST 800-53 framework and its IronPort system, blocking 112 million malicious emails annually, sets a strong example. However, not every state can match Ohio’s resources. Many rural and urban districts lack the funds or expertise to build similar defenses.
Some policymakers argue for state autonomy, emphasizing local partnerships and minimal federal rules. They believe this spurs innovation and flexibility. Yet, this fragmented system creates vulnerabilities. Only 77 percent of districts vet vendor privacy practices, and just 48 percent have data retention policies. The PowerSchool breach, exposing 62 million student records, highlights the dangers of inconsistent standards. Leaving schools to rely on state or private solutions risks abandoning the most vulnerable.
A national approach ensures fairness. The FCC’s $200 million cybersecurity pilot provides grants to support districts in need. Advocates for federal leadership call for standardized security frameworks and mandatory breach reporting to close gaps. Ohio’s progress is inspiring, but without national support, many schools remain exposed.
Building a National Fortress for Schools
Every school, whether in urban Cincinnati or rural Ohio, deserves top-tier cybersecurity. Federal leadership can deliver this. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers school-specific assessments, while grants from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program fund tools like TechGuard. These efforts focus on protecting students, not expanding red tape. Supporters of federal engagement advocate weaving cybersecurity into STEM education and prioritizing equity for underserved districts.
Proposals to shrink agencies like CISA or the Department of Education would undermine these protections. Past breaches, such as the 2022 Illuminate Education incident impacting countless students, prove the need for unified standards. Ohio’s Cyber Range Institute shows how federal-state collaboration can blend local innovation with national resources, creating a stronger defense network.
Training is vital, but it’s not enough. Phishing drives 95 percent of attacks, with sophisticated AI-powered scams targeting schools. Federal funding for zero-trust systems, multi-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring is critical. States like Alabama and Maryland have passed strong laws, but national coordination is necessary to make these efforts cohesive.
Securing Our Children’s Future
Ohio’s TechGuard is a critical tool, but it cannot stand alone. Every student deserves a school safe from cyber threats, and only federal leadership can ensure this. Expanding CISA’s role, funding grants for struggling districts, and enforcing breach reporting will hold vendors accountable and strengthen defenses.
Our children’s safety is non-negotiable. Ohio has lit the way, but the nation must act. Let’s create a system where every school is a stronghold, protecting the future of education.