Career Kickstart Cybersecurity Pilots

In the fall of 2025, Career Kickstart will launch a pilot program for hundreds of high schools to test our cybersecurity frameworks for two new courses:

• Cybersecurity 1: Networking Fundamentals
• Cybersecurity 2: Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Pilot Timeline

• June 2024: School application opens
• November 15, 2024: Applications due
• December 2024: Invitations sent to schools no later than December
• February 2025: Deadline for schools to confirm participation
• Spring 2025: Schools recruit students to Career Kickstart courses for the 2025-26 school year
• June–August 2025: Pilot teachers attend a Career Kickstart Summer Institute (CKSI) (multiple dates and locations will be available)
• August/September 2025: Pilot teachers launch Career Kickstart course
• November 15, 2025: Deadline to register students for Career Kickstart exams (except for courses that don’t start until after November 15)
• May 2026: Career Kickstart exam administered and completion of pilot year

Pilot School Commitments

• Submit an application by November 15, 2024.
• If selected, submit a participation contract by February 2025.
• Identify a teacher to lead the course during the 2025-26 school year.
• Encourage students to register for the Career Kickstart course(s) during course selection activities in winter/spring 2025.
• Send the teacher to a 5-day Summer Institute in June–August 2025 (there will be multiple sites/dates to choose from).
  • Registration fee: $900
  • Lodging: College Board will cover the cost for pilot participants in SY25-26.
• Register students for the Career Kickstart exams by the November 15 deadline using the AP Registration and Ordering system. Order exams as part of the school’s AP Exam order submitted by the AP coordinator.
• Encourage and support all enrolled students to take the Career Kickstart exam.

We encourage high schools to provide students with the weighted GPA benefits they get by taking an AP course.

Pilot Teacher Commitments

• Attend a 5-day Career Kickstart Summer Institute (CKSI) in June–August 2025.
• Use the course framework to teach the course in the 2025-26 school year and administer the course assessment for the 2025-26 school year.
• Utilize Career Kickstart instructional supports and lesson plans.
• Participate in the online Career Kickstart Teacher Community.
• Provide regular feedback to the program on the course framework, course resources, and the pilot experience and support Career Kickstart as we build it together.

Participant Profile

Here’s what we’re looking for in pilot teachers:

• Teaching Experience: You are teaching or have recently taught a course in networking, cybersecurity, or computer science. You’re an innovator who enjoys trying new things and launching new programs; you engage in an iterative design-and-application process to drive improvement.
• Commitment: You’re excited to participate and will complete the course with your students so they can take the exam at the end of the year, if they choose.
• Collaboration: You enjoy and have experience working with other teachers to build and improve a course, share ideas, and learn from their practice. You believe that no one has a monopoly on the right idea and that students benefit when educators work together.
• Engagement: You understand the importance of—and are skilled at building—student relationships. You encourage student voice and choice, and you prepare lessons that prioritize high levels of engagement.
• Applied Learning: You believe that students learn by doing and need to engage in productive struggle. You’re comfortable and have experience using a project- or problem-based instructional approach.
• Innovation: You value creativity in the classroom, and you innovate in your instructional practices. You try new techniques and encourage students to take risks.
• Equity: You believe that every student can be successful, and you provide the support needed to ensure all students have equitable access to instructional content.
• Curiosity: You’re interested in technology: how it works, why it sometimes doesn’t work, and how to fix it. You see yourself as a co-learner with students.

Application Guidelines

Schools, districts, and teachers should submit an application by November 15, 2024.

Before completing the form, please read the participant profile above and the pilot commitments in the pilot application form. Completing the form does not obligate you to participate.

You’ll receive a follow-up once you submit the application.