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项关键需求，也是一项重大挑战。为了满足这一需求，企业、行业和政府需要准备充分的技术人员，他们可以预防、检测和调查网络安全漏洞。网络威胁的增长创造了对更多拥有保护数字基础设施的知识和技能的工人的需求。例如，在该项目所在地科罗拉多的博尔德县，2019年的一项分析发现有800多个网络安全职位空缺。在这个项目中，Front Range Community College和St. Vrain Valley School District将与行业合作伙伴沿着合作，开发和实施网络安全技术早期大学高中（P-TECH）课程。 该项目预计将建立一个多样化的网络安全技术人员管道，以解决该地区劳动力严重短缺的问题。P-TECH模式由纽约市公立学校与IBM和纽约市理工学院合作于2011年率先推出。 P-TECH模式为学生提供高中文凭，高需求技术领域的副学士学位和重要的行业工作经验，免费。Front Range Community College，St. Vrain Valley School District和IBM于2016年在美国西部推出了第一个P-TECH计划，专注于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计划。 主要目标是为代表性不足的学生，包括第一代大学生，少数民族学生和女孩，提供进入技术行业的强大途径。新的网络安全P-TECH计划将通过与Front Range社区学院，St. Vrain Valley学区和几家主要公司的合作伙伴关系实施。随着大学课程在学生的9年级开始，该项目将为参与者提供高中文凭，专注于网络安全的副学士学位，以及重要的行业经验，所有这些都在四到六年内，学生免费。该项目将在项目期间为两批30名学生提供服务，目的是从2023年开始将队列规模扩大到50-60名学生。当达到满负荷时（在此奖项结束后），该计划预计将招收约200-250名学生，每年毕业约50名新技术人员。该计划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。从该计划毕业后，学生将拥有成功过渡到合作公司之一的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，该项目还将提供一个机会来研究这种整体的技术人员教育方法，该方法汇集了K-12，大专和行业合作伙伴，在该国最受欢迎的技术领域之一合作提供严格的应用课程。 该项目由先进技术教育（ATE）计划资助，该计划的重点是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NSF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.