The Leadership Imperatives for K-12 Cybersecurity in the Age of AI. 2025 iboss-Project Tomorrow National Research on K-12 Cybersecurity
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| Title: | The Leadership Imperatives for K-12 Cybersecurity in the Age of AI. 2025 iboss-Project Tomorrow National Research on K-12 Cybersecurity |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Project Tomorrow, iboss |
| Source: | Project Tomorrow. 2025. |
| Availability: | Project Tomorrow. 15707 Rockfield Boulevard Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92618. Tel: 949-609-4660; Fax: 949-609-4665; e-mail: speakup@tomorrow.org; Web site: http://www.tomorrow.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Secondary Education Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | School Districts, Information Technology, Information Security, Computer Security, Administrators, Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Risk Management, Needs Assessment, Leadership Role, Artificial Intelligence |
| Abstract: | Since 2017, Project Tomorrow® has been collecting and sharing the views of K-12 leaders about cybersecurity issues through the annual Speak Up® Research Project. For the past six years, Project Tomorrow have collaborated with iboss on a highly targeted study that examines the state of K-12 cybersecurity awareness and preparation in the nation's school districts from the perspective of technology leadership. The findings from this research regularly inform the policies and initiatives of K-12 school districts nationwide. The nation's K-12 CIOs and CTOs understand what is at stake today with cybersecurity. According to the latest Project Tomorrow research, two-thirds of K-12 district leaders (67%) say that addressing cyber threats and protecting district assets is their number 1 most challenging issue today. District leaders (55%) identify establishing and enforcing Generative AI policies and guidelines as their second most important challenge. These top two challenges are inevitably linked. When asked about current risks for a cyberattack, 88% of district leaders said they believe that K-12 schools and districts are at a higher risk today than ever before. The potential use of AI within cyber-attacks is often cited as the reason for that increased risk today. Given that context, the focus in this year's state of cybersecurity report is on both understanding what has changed in K-12 cybersecurity over the past few years as well as reflecting on the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it relates to cybersecurity. Both views are important to understand the current context for cybersecurity leadership in K-12 districts. Using feedback from 2,310 district technology leaders representing a diverse set of K-12 districts nationwide, this year's report, "The Leadership Imperatives for K-12 Cybersecurity in the Age of AI," continues the legacy of supporting district technology leaders in their important work to ensure that the data, infrastructure and resources within their networks are protected. Additionally, this year Project Tomorrow have used the research findings to identify five key cybersecurity realities that are driving the need for enhanced leadership and a new prioritization of cybersecurity in K-12 institutions. Within each of the five realities, the authors are positioning a new leadership imperative in the form of a question for consideration by K-12 district technology leaders as they navigate the choppy waters of cybersecurity in the age of AI. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED680465 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Since 2017, Project Tomorrow® has been collecting and sharing the views of K-12 leaders about cybersecurity issues through the annual Speak Up® Research Project. For the past six years, Project Tomorrow have collaborated with iboss on a highly targeted study that examines the state of K-12 cybersecurity awareness and preparation in the nation's school districts from the perspective of technology leadership. The findings from this research regularly inform the policies and initiatives of K-12 school districts nationwide. The nation's K-12 CIOs and CTOs understand what is at stake today with cybersecurity. According to the latest Project Tomorrow research, two-thirds of K-12 district leaders (67%) say that addressing cyber threats and protecting district assets is their number 1 most challenging issue today. District leaders (55%) identify establishing and enforcing Generative AI policies and guidelines as their second most important challenge. These top two challenges are inevitably linked. When asked about current risks for a cyberattack, 88% of district leaders said they believe that K-12 schools and districts are at a higher risk today than ever before. The potential use of AI within cyber-attacks is often cited as the reason for that increased risk today. Given that context, the focus in this year's state of cybersecurity report is on both understanding what has changed in K-12 cybersecurity over the past few years as well as reflecting on the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it relates to cybersecurity. Both views are important to understand the current context for cybersecurity leadership in K-12 districts. Using feedback from 2,310 district technology leaders representing a diverse set of K-12 districts nationwide, this year's report, "The Leadership Imperatives for K-12 Cybersecurity in the Age of AI," continues the legacy of supporting district technology leaders in their important work to ensure that the data, infrastructure and resources within their networks are protected. Additionally, this year Project Tomorrow have used the research findings to identify five key cybersecurity realities that are driving the need for enhanced leadership and a new prioritization of cybersecurity in K-12 institutions. Within each of the five realities, the authors are positioning a new leadership imperative in the form of a question for consideration by K-12 district technology leaders as they navigate the choppy waters of cybersecurity in the age of AI. |
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