CoSN Expresses Deep Concern Over Cuts to the Office of Educational Technology and Cybersecurity Services for Schools

The Consortium for School Networking is alarmed by the Administration’s decision to eliminate the staff of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology and significantly reduce cybersecurity services that protect K-12 schools. These actions threaten the progress of digital learning, widen inequities in student access to technology and expose school districts to increased cybersecurity risks. Educators across the country rely on the federal government’s technical assistance and guidance to navigate the opportunities and challenges of educational technology. The absence of OET will have real consequences, particularly for school districts working to implement responsible AI strategies, address digital equity gaps and ensure students can learn safely online. Resources like the National Educational Technology Plan and recent AI guidance risk becoming outdated and unavailable, leaving schools without critical support. In addition to these cuts, the Administration’s decision to shrink the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and eliminate funding for services like the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center will leave schools more vulnerable to cyber threats.