Expanded national framework helps schools keep pace with AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing and the rapidly evolving technology landscape

Today, CYBER.ORG, the academic initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center, announced its updated National K-12 Cybersecurity and AI Learning Standards, providing schools and educators with a framework for what students should know and be able to do, as AI and emerging technologies reshape the skills needed for college, careers and everyday life.

The skills required to succeed in the workforce are changing quickly. The World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 40% of skills required on the job will change by 2030, with AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technology literacy ranking among the fastest-growing skill areas. For schools, that shift raises an increasingly urgent question: How do we prepare students for technologies and careers that are evolving faster than traditional curriculum development?

CYBER.ORG’s updated standards are designed to help answer that question. Building on the National K-12 Cybersecurity Learning Standards introduced in 2021, the expanded framework reflects today’s technology landscape, incorporating AI, agentic AI, and quantum computing. Expanded clarification statements and new mastery statements also give educators clearer guidance on what to teach and what students should be able to demonstrate by the end of each grade band. The updates establish age-appropriate expectations that build technical knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills across technologies and career paths.

“Technology is moving too quickly for us to wait until students enter college or the workforce to introduce these concepts,” said Charlene Cooper, director of CYBER.ORG. “Not every student will become a cybersecurity professional, AI engineer or quantum scientist, but every student should have the opportunity to understand the technologies influencing their lives and careers. These standards give educators a clear starting point for building that knowledge early and helping students see where those skills can take them.”

These skills are becoming relevant across nearly every industry, not just traditional technology careers. AI and cybersecurity are already changing how people work in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, finance and government. Introducing these concepts throughout K-12 education can help students build practical skills early and continue developing them as they move into further education and the workforce.

Developed with input from educators and industry experts, the standards translate complex topics into practical learning expectations for K-12 education. Educators can incorporate the concepts across grade levels, subjects and learning environments, providing flexibility for schools while allowing students to build their knowledge over time.

“Given the lightning speed of recent emerging technological advances, it is critical that K-12 education standards and curriculum reflect these innovations. That is exactly what Cyber.org accomplished with the revised National K-12 Cybersecurity and AI Learning Standards,” said Dr. Keith Clement of California State University, Fresno.

The updated National K-12 Cybersecurity and AI Learning Standards are available at http://www.cyber.org.

About CYBER.ORG

CYBER.ORG, the academic and workforce initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center, is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity education and workforce development across K-12 and higher education. Supported in part by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), CYBER.ORG provides curriculum written to industry certification objectives, professional development, and hands-on resources to teach cybersecurity education to K-12 students nationwide. With content used in over 10,000 schools in all 50 states by over 48,000 educators, CYBER.ORG empowers students with real-world skills and career-connected learning pathways. By 2029, CYBER.ORG aims to support over 50,000 educators and impact six million students, helping shape a future-ready cybersecurity workforce. For more information, please visit http://www.cyber.org.

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