Using the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Model to Build the Future Cybersecurity Technical Workforce

保持计算机和信息系统的安全是一个关键的需求和主要的挑战。为了实现这一目标，企业、行业和政府都需要准备充分的技术人员来预防、检测和调查网络安全漏洞。网络威胁的增长催生了对更多具备保护数字基础设施知识和技能的工作人员的需求。例如，在该项目的所在地科罗拉多州博尔德县，2019年的一项分析发现，有800多个网络安全职位空缺。在该项目中，Front Range社区学院和St. Vrain Valley学区以及行业合作伙伴将合作开发和实施网络安全技术早期大学高中（P-TECH）计划。该项目预计将建立一个多样化的网络安全技术人员管道，以解决严重的区域劳动力短缺问题。P-TECH模式于2011年由纽约市公立学校与IBM和纽约市技术学院合作开创。P-TECH模式免费为学生提供高中文凭，高要求技术领域的副学士学位和重要的行业工作经验。2016年，Front Range社区学院、St. Vrain Valley学区和IBM在美国西部推出了首个P-TECH项目，重点关注计算机信息系统领域。该项目将开发一个新的网络安全P-TECH项目。主要目标是为代表性不足的学生，包括第一代大学生、少数族裔学生和女孩，提供进入科技行业的有力途径。新的网络安全P-TECH项目将通过Front Range社区学院、St. Vrain Valley学区和几家大公司的合作来实施。大学课程从学生九年级开始，该项目将为参与者提供高中文凭、网络安全副学士学位和重要的行业经验，所有这些都将在四到六年内完成，学生无需支付任何费用。该项目将在项目期间为两组30名学生提供服务，并打算从2023年开始将队列规模扩大到50-60名学生。当达到满负荷时（在该奖项结束后），该计划预计每年将招收约200-250名学生，并毕业约50名新技术人员。该项目中的学习课程将与行业合作伙伴共同开发，以满足行业的技能需求。学生将获得重要的基于工作的学习机会，包括工作现场参观、行业专业人士的指导和带薪实习。从该项目毕业后，学生将具备在合作公司成功过渡到网络安全职位所需的技能和能力，包括“软技能”。由于P-TECH模式仍然相对较新，该项目也将提供一个机会来研究这种全面的技术教育方法，它将K-12，高等教育和行业合作伙伴聚集在一起，共同在该国最受欢迎的技术领域之一提供严格的应用课程。该项目由先进技术教育（ATE）计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Keeping computers and information systems secure is a critical need and a major challenge. To meet it, business, industry, and government need well-prepared technicians who can prevent, detect, and investigate cybersecurity breaches. The growth of cyber-threats has created a need for many more workers who have the knowledge and skills to protect digital infrastructure. For example, in Boulder County, Colorado, the location of this project, an analysis in 2019 found more than 800 open cybersecurity positions. In this project, Front Range Community College and St. Vrain Valley School District, along with industry partners, will collaborate to develop and implement a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program in cybersecurity. This project is expected to build a diverse pipeline of cybersecurity technicians to address the significant regional workforce shortage. The P-TECH model was pioneered in 2011 by the New York City Public Schools in partnership with IBM and the New York City College of Technology. The P-TECH model provides students with a high school diploma, an associate degree in a high-demand technical field, and significant industry work experience, at no cost. Front Range Community College, St. Vrain Valley School District, and IBM launched the first P-TECH program in the western United States in 2016, focused on the field of computer information systems. This project will develop a new P-TECH program in cybersecurity. A primary goal is to provide underrepresented students, including first-generation college students, minority students, and girls, with a strong pathway into the technology industry.The new cybersecurity P-TECH program will be implemented through a partnership involving Front Range Community College, St. Vrain Valley School District, and several major companies. With college coursework beginning in students' 9th Grade year, this project will provide participants with a high school diploma, an associate degree with a concentration in cybersecurity, and significant industry experience, all within four to six years and at no cost to the students. The project will serve two cohorts of 30 students over the project period, with the intent of expanding cohort size to 50-60 students beginning in 2023. When full capacity is reached (after the end of this award), the program is expected to enroll approximately 200-250 students and graduate approximately 50 new technicians annually. The course of study within the program will be co-developed with the industry partners to address industry's skill needs. Students will receive significant work-based learning opportunities, including work site visits, mentoring by industry professionals, and paid internships. Upon graduation from the program, students will have the skills and competencies, including "soft skills," necessary to successfully transition to a cybersecurity position at one of the partnering companies. Because the P-TECH model is still relatively new, this project will also provide an opportunity to study this holistic approach to technician education, which brings together K-12, postsecondary, and industry partners to collaboratively deliver a rigorous and applied course of study in one of the country's most in-demand technical fields. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, which focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.