K12 Educators

Preparing Oregon Educators To Teach Cybersecurity Concepts

The Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, created by the state legislature in 2023, is a resource to Oregon teachers. One of OCCoE’s roles is to encourage the development of our state’s cybersecurity workforce and enhance cybersecurity education through a focus on STEM and CTE programs. To expand equitable access to cybersecurity learning and ensure student readiness for digital citizenship and cyber careers, we understand that Oregon’s K-12 educators need support. We share resources and opportunities with educators so they may confidently teach cybersecurity concepts. Join our educator mailing list [bit.ly/NWCC_K12educators] for occasional news about cybersecurity teaching resources, professional development, curriculum, and career-connected learning experiences for youth.

Professional Development Opportunities

  • Self-Paced PD from Cyber.org: Find virtual workshops and a Self-Paced PD course at https://cyber.org/events
  • Self-Paced PD from Common Sense Media: Discover live and recorded webinars, articles, and self-paced PD courses like AI Basics for K12 Teachers and Teaching Digital Literacy and Well-Being (their free K-12 curriculum) and more at https://www.commonsense.org/education/professional-development.
  • Graduate Level PD from TeachCyber.org: The National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy is an 18 credit-hour graduate-level certificate designed to prepare high school teachers to teach cybersecurity. The online coursework varies by participating universities and typically includes Teaching Cybersecurity, Foundations of Cybersecurity, Network Security and other Advanced Topics. https://teachcyber.org/ncta/

Cybersecurity Learning Standards

While the Oregon Department of Education completed its second draft of the Optional K12 Computer Science Education Standards in 2026, Oregon does not have specific cybersecurity learning standards. Educators developing a cybersecurity course or a CTE Program of Study, may be interested in the following standards and guidance.

Curriculum Resources

 NW Cyber Camp aims to introduce Oregon’s teachers to cybersecurity-focused, vendor-neutral instructional materials. To ensure equitable access, curricular resources are identified based on their alignment with public-service missions rather than commercial interests. This includes Creative Commons and Public Domain resources that offer pertinent material without the barrier of recurring licensing costs. All cybersecurity curriculum, classroom resources, and instructional modules cited by NW CYber Camp and OCCoE are sourced from Federal & State Government Agencies, Academic Consortia and/or 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations.

CLARK (Cybersecurity Labs And Resource Knowledge-base) is a large platform of free cybersecurity curricular resources created by educators and reviewed for relevance and quality. CLARK’s repository of more than 4,000 resources is searchable by topic (adversarial thinking, ethics, cryptography, etc.), by level (elementary, middle or high school), and/or by collection (from GenCyber Camps, CLARK4Kids, XP Cyber, and more). The robust filter can also help you find lessons by length, ranging from activities that take an hour to year-long courses. https://clark.center/home

Common Sense Media provides schools with family engagement strategies in support of students’ digital well, along with K12 teacher resources. The Digital Literacy & Well Being Curriculum includes lesson plans, interactive activities, and discussion guides. The K-8 topics include Cyberbullying, Digital Footprints and Identity, Information and Media Literacy, and Privacy and Safety with more than 140 twenty-minute lessons. The high school program includes 25 forty-minute lessons addressing AI literacy and other digital challenges students encounter frequently along with the skills they need to thrive. https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-literacy

CYBER.ORG offers an extensive course library covering topics from cyber literacy, security basics, coding fundamentals, AI, networking and more available at no cost to K-12 educators. There is also free access to a Cyber Range (for 6th to 12th grade students) so teachers can lead learners through labs to experience cyber attacks in a safe and controlled, virtual environment. CYBER.ORG is part of Cyber Innovation Center, a 501c3 non-profit organization, funded in large part by a grant from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). If you are a long time user, note that in the summer of 2026, a new CYBERPortal (portal.cyber.org) replaced both apps.cyber.org and Canvas as the home for CYBER.ORG curriculum and range access.

The National Cryptologic Foundation’s Outsmart Cyberthreats collection, helps middle and high school students build the skills to protect themselves online. The 21-page magazine-like booklet, accompanying teacher guide and student workbook, uses real-life examples and hands-on activities to teach “Data Care”— the practical habits and security principles that keep personally identifiable information safe. Any educator can use this free resource to teach cyber safety in a classroom or an after-school program. Students learn how companies and criminals use data, as well as how to spot and avoid online threats, manage digital risks, and explore careers in cybersecurity. Through scenario-based learning, interactive exercises, and clear takeaways, Outsmart Cyberthreats offers students skills they can use immediately. https://cryptologicfoundation.org/resources/downloads/outsmart-cyberthreats-collection/

RING (Regions Investing in the Next Generation) is a foundational cybersecurity course developed by the University of Alabama at Huntsville for high school learners. It includes 180 content hours with detailed lesson plans, instructional slides, activities, hands-on labs, graphic organizers, review games, and assessments. The RING program also offers limited teacher and student accounts for a free cybersecurity range. Oregon educators interested in using the RING curriculum or offering a RING course can complete the RING Curriculum Request Form using their institutional email address. RING is provided at no cost through grants by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program office located at the National Security Agency and through partnerships with Centers of Academic Excellence Community institutions.

Teach Cyber’s eight-module The Challenge of Cybersecurity – Cyber 1 course for 9th – 12th graders introduces students to the foundational concepts, principles, and tools of cybersecurity. The 100-120 hour curriculum is rooted in eight big ideas: ethics, establishing trust, ubiquitous connectivity, data security, system security, adversarial thinking, risk, and implications. The modular design provides flexible implementation as modules can be used independently or in whatever sequence you prefer. Free to Registered Educators. https://teachcyber.org/cybersecurity-teaching-resources/lessons/intro-to-cybersecurity/#edd-free-download-modal

The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA’s) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) is a collection of workforce and educational resources for many audiences, including teachers and students.