Nationwide Campaign of EdTech Leaders Advocates Against Budget Cuts Leading to More Cyberattacks Against Schools

 

Washington, D.C. (April 16, 2025) – In response to mounting cyber threats facing school districts across the country, CoSN has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign mobilizing EdTech leaders, educators and stakeholders to urge Congress to maintain federal support for cybersecurity assistance in K-12 education. The campaign includes coordinated outreach through emails, phone calls, letters and social media, underscoring the urgent need to protect schools from growing cyber threats in the face of budget cuts.

Recent actions by the Trump Administration have eliminated key funding for school-focused cybersecurity initiatives through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — including support from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) — while also cutting staff at the Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology. These actions strip away critical resources that help schools defend against ransomware and other cyber threats.

“This is not a partisan issue — it’s about protecting students and keeping classrooms safe. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting schools, forcing districts to make difficult decisions and putting students’ learning and data at risk. We need Congress to act now to ensure schools have the resources they need to stay safe,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN.

Cybersecurity remains the top priority for EdTech leaders, according to the CoSN 2024 State of EdTech District Leadership Report, with 99% of districts taking measures to improve protections. However, as federal emergency funding comes to an end, forthcoming data from the 2025 report reveal heightened concern: 35% of districts say cybersecurity is the area most at risk — threatening hard-won progress and increasing schools’ exposure to attacks.

The scope of the threat is substantial. According to the 2025 CIS MS-ISAC K-12 Cybersecurity Report, created in partnership with CoSN, 82% of K-12 organizations experienced cyber threat impacts, including nearly 14,000 security events and 9,300 confirmed incidents. Moreover, attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with cybercriminals targeting human behavior at least 45% more than technical vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, school districts remain under-resourced. Data from the CoSN 2025 National Student Data Privacy Report found that 73% of district EdTech leaders who are responsible for building and maintaining student data privacy programs say it’s not part of their official job description, and 17% have never received any privacy training.

Still, districts are taking action. The forthcoming CoSN 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership Report highlights a growing investment in cybersecurity infrastructure: 78% of districts are investing in monitoring, detection and response; 65% in endpoint protection; 57% in advanced/next generation firewall; and 57% in identity protection and authentication as cybersecurity tactics.

The campaign urges immediate Congressional action to restore and maintain cybersecurity funding that schools depend on. Stakeholders are encouraged to get involved and speak out in support of continued protection for K-12 systems.

To take action or learn more, visit https://www.cosn.org/advocacy-policy/.

About CoSN
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. cosn.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Grace Helsing, ghelsing@fratelli.com