What can CyberStart America VA do for you and your students?

What is it?

CyberStart is a game designed by cybersecurity professionals to identify high school students with the attributes needed to perform at the highest levels of cybersecurity through over 200 fun and interactive challenges and offers high-performing students opportunities for training and certification.

CyberStart is also aligned to help high school teachers teach Cybersecurity Fundamentals course 6302 and other CS courses.

Why is this offered?

Alan Paller of the SANS Institute originally saw the potential of CyberStart for the U.S. cyber pipeline and offered U.S. students the chance to begin playing CyberStart in 2018 through the Girls Go CyberStart program.

The SANS Institute joined with the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) in 2020 to offer the CyberStart program, allowing the NCSF to provide scholarships for free, industry training and professional certifications to top performers.

Five states, including the Commonwealth of Virginia, have started a pilot program to offer more incentives to participating schools and students to increase cybersecurity awareness and help fill the need for more cyber professionals. Governor Youngkin, the VA Department of Education, the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and its nodes, multiple universities and community colleges, CodeVA and the Virgina Cyber Range are all teamed together to support the CyberStart effort in the Commonwealth.

How do students participate?

Cyber Start America is now a 50-state program for ALL high school students in the United States, and offered through a student’s own desktop computer or free of charge through the Virginia CyberRange platform.

What can students get?

CyberStart America participants in grades 9-12 who earn at least 20,000 points in CyberStart are invited to apply for a training scholarship to cover the SANS Foundations course, and a free attempt at the GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) certification exam (over $3,000 value).

In addition, there are cash and other prizes to be won.

The CyberStart America program can identify, train, and certify high school students in one year, all without the need for a dedicated cyber teacher.

What can schools get?

The CyberStart program helps your teachers with the Cybersecurity Fundamentals 6302 curriculum and other CS classes, helps your students discover their cyber and problem-solving skills and get outside training and qualifications, and teachers in Virginia can win prizes to further their Cyber teaching skills.

Is it safe?

CyberStart America is FERPA compliant and is available to students through their own computers, school computers with access to the internet, or through the Virginia CyberRange platform.

To learn more about the SANS Technology Institute or National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF), please visit their websites

Visit our CyberStartVA Teachers page to download the student and teacher flyer to post at your school and distribute, and the VA Matrix of Standards for Cybersecurity Fundamentals Class 6302.

Visit the CyberStart America Educator page to read more.

Visit the CyberStart America website to find out what hardware and software your students need to participate in CyberStart America

Implementation Recommendations for Schools

CyberStart is a highly flexible program for schools. The game can be incorporated into a class, be a stand-alone club, be used in an “Extensions” period, or be completed individually by students:

Classroom-Incorporation Option:

  1. Encourage CTE, CS, Career, Extensions/Study Hall teachers (etc.) or counselors to incorporate CyberStart into their curriculum plans. This Matrix of Standards will demonstrate how many required standards the CyberStart game addresses in a free, fun, and easy-to-use way.

  2. Consider incorporating CyberStart into an extensions, enrichment, or problem-solving course.

  3. Plan for ways to recruit and encourage students. Cyber pep rallies, information sessions with pizza, career fairs, are examples of how to launch this year.

  4. Plan ways to encourage continued engagement in the game. For example, how will you announce the bronze, silver, and gold award winners at your school?

Club Option:

Find 1-3 teachers willing to hold a club before school, after school, and/or during lunch We recommend that club leadership replace duty during club time to provide teachers an incentive. Here are a few important reminders:

  1. Any teacher/staff member can be a club leader because the game is the one that does the teaching.

  2. Club Leaders will only need to:

    a.   Make sure students stay on the correct webpage and monitor the classroom,

    b.   Help recruit students for the club, and

    c.   Let admin know when students earn badges for recognition on the morning announcements!

  3. Consider the best time and location to host clubs. If possible, lunch-and-learn clubs are encouraged for working students and those caring for younger siblings before/after school.

Individual Option:

  1. Students can play the game on their own to potentially earn scholarships and prizes.

  2. Counselors and principals should encourage all students to try the game.

  3. Consider incentives to try the first level: homework pass, free admission to school event, etc.

Timeline:

  • Now: Recruit students, participate in CyberStartVA pre-game webinars/activities.

  • October — March: CyberStart game competition.

  • May: Virginia prizes nominee certification event, Prize winner ceremony.

  • Summer 2024: Cyber training for National Cyber Scholars.

Watch a brief presentation by the University of North Georgia on some of the benefits CyberStart America brought to their state.