Due to the sensitive nature of school data collection combined with limited resources for cybersecurity and gaps
in digital defenses, cyber-attacks on schools are becoming increasingly common. The best way to limit the
impact of such attacks is to have a robust incident response plan in place and practice it as regularly as a
fire drill. An incident response plan provides a structured approach to detecting, containing, and recovering
from cyber incidents, ensuring schools can act quickly to protect sensitive information, minimize downtime,
and prevent future breaches.
About Cybersecurity Education
Cybersecurity is essential to protecting the digital foundation of today’s schools. As learning, communication, and operations increasingly rely on technology, schools must take proactive steps to defend against cyber threats and ensure a safe, uninterrupted educational experience. Effective cybersecurity is not just about technology, it’s about building a culture of awareness, responsibility, and resilience.
Best Practices and Guiding Principles:
- Prioritize cybersecurity as a core component of school safety and operational planning.
- Foster a culture of shared responsibility among staff, students, and administrators.
- Invest in professional development to build awareness and capacity across all roles.
- Integrate digital citizenship into teaching and learning to promote safe, responsible use of technology.
- Implement layered security measures, including secure infrastructure, access controls, and data protection protocols.
- Develop and regularly update incident response plans to ensure readiness and minimize disruption.
- Partner with technology leaders to align cybersecurity efforts with district goals and resources.
Resources
Data Privacy & Security
Protecting student, staff, and family data is fundamental to maintaining trust, ensuring compliance, and supporting safe, effective learning environments. As schools increasingly use digital tools, strong data privacy practices help safeguard personal information and reinforce the public’s confidence in how schools manage sensitive data. Maine is an active member of the SDPC through Access 4 Learning (A4L), giving schools access to vetted privacy agreements and tools to support secure edtech adoption. Learn more at sdpc.a4l.org.
- Treat data privacy as a core component of school safety, equity, and ethical leadership.
- Comply with state and federal privacy laws, including FERPA and COPPA, through informed policy and practice.
- Use standardized Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs) when adopting educational technologies.
- Partner with trusted organizations like the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) to streamline agreements and vendor accountability.
- Maintain transparency by sharing approved applications and data practices with your school community.
- Train staff on responsible data handling and privacy protocols.
- Regularly review and update privacy policies and procedures to keep pace with changing technologies and regulations.
Resources
Cyber Wellness & Safety
Supporting students’ technology wellness is critical to their academic success, mental health, and overall development. In a constantly connected world, schools play a key role in helping students build healthy relationships with technology, balancing digital learning with well-being, self-regulation, and responsible use. By embedding cyber wellness into school routines and culture, educators help students develop the lifelong habits they need to thrive in a digital world.
Best Practices and Guiding Principles:
- Promote balanced technology use by encouraging regular breaks and offline activities.
- Educate students about digital fatigue, sleep disruption, and the impact of screen overuse.
- Integrate digital citizenship into the curriculum to support respectful, safe online behavior.
- Set clear, developmentally appropriate expectations for device use in classrooms and school spaces.
- Create tech-free times or zones during the school day to foster mindfulness and focus.
- Address issues like cyberbullying, social media pressure, and digital distraction through proactive conversations and schoolwide policies.
- Partner with families to reinforce healthy technology habits at home and at school.
- Encourage student voice and leadership in developing a positive, wellness-centered tech culture.
Resources
- Common Sense Media
- MS-ISAC (Alert System)
-
Maine Information and Analysis Center
(MIAC) (Alert System)
Teaching & Learning
Embedding cybersecurity education into daily teaching and learning practices is key to building a safe, informed, and digitally responsible school culture. When students and staff understand the risks and responsibilities of navigating online spaces, schools become more resilient to cyber threats and students gain essential skills for success in an increasingly digital world. By integrating cybersecurity into teaching and learning, schools empower students and staff to actively contribute to a secure and supportive digital environment.
Best Practices and Guiding Principles:
- Integrate cybersecurity topics into existing curriculum areas, including digital literacy, computer science, and digital health.
- Align cybersecurity education with broader school goals around safety, readiness, and future-focused learning
- Partner with families to extend online safety education beyond the classroom.
- Reinforce digital citizenship and ethical technology use across grade levels.
- Use real-world examples to connect cybersecurity concepts to students’ everyday digital experiences.
- Emphasize the shared responsibility of all school community members in protecting data and digital systems.
- Provide ongoing professional development to help educators model safe, responsible technology use.
- Teach students how to identify and respond to common online threats such as phishing, social engineering, and identity theft.
Resources
- Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team (Professional Development)
- Federal CTE Cybersecurity Programs
- K12 Cybersecurity Learning Standards (Cyber.org)
- Cyber Range (CISA/Cyber.org)
- Cyber Competitions and Games
- NetSmartz Kids
Leadership
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is no longer “just” an IT concern, it’s a critical leadership responsibility. With schools facing increasing threats such as ransomware, data breaches, and digital disruptions, education leaders must take an active role in shaping secure, resilient learning environments. Being on the front lines of cybersecurity means making informed decisions, fostering a culture of shared responsibility, and ensuring that every aspect of school operations, from instruction to infrastructure, reflects a commitment to digital safety. School leaders play a vital role in protecting their communities, both physically and digitally. Proactive, informed leadership is the foundation of a safe and secure school system.
Best Practices and Guiding Principles:
- Lead with cybersecurity planning and policy development as a core function of district leadership.
- Partner closely with technology teams to understand vulnerabilities and prioritize investments in secure infrastructure.
- Promote district-wide awareness of cybersecurity risks through clear communication and modeling of safe practices.
- Develop incident response protocols that include leadership roles in decision-making and communication.
- Ensure policies and procedures align with state and federal regulations, including data privacy laws.
- Allocate resources for cybersecurity training, software, and system monitoring as part of strategic planning.
- Support ongoing professional development for staff to recognize and respond to cyber threats.
- Cultivate a school culture where cybersecurity is seen as a shared responsibility essential to student safety and academic continuity.
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
- Family Rights and Protections Act
- COPPA: Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
- CFAA: Computer Fraud & Abuse Act
- Rehabilitation Act: Section 508 Accessibility
- CIPA: Children's Internet Protection Act
- LD 6554 Bullying: Cyberbullying
- ME-LD 933: Broadband
- PL 117-47: 2021 Cybersecurity Act – CISA
- H. R. 1841: Digital Equity Act
- Title 20A: Chapter 13: The Student Information Privacy Act
- Incident Response: ACT NOW
- Sample Incident Response Plans
- CISA Incident Plan Basics
- K12 CyberStorm ‘25 ,m ‘24 (Tabletop Exercises)
- CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages
- MITRE Attack Methods
- Beazley Cyber IR (Cyber Insurer)
- (MSMA, MMA) Cyber Insurance
This brief planning checklist is adapted from the Idaho Math Pathways Implementation Guide. Source: Maine DOE and MCSS with input from Maine Math Pathways Working Group Members and R1CC.