Summary: Assembly Bill A2999 (Cybersecurity Curriculum, Degree Models, and Loan Redemption)
Status: Introduced in the Assembly on January 9, 2024; referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee. Companion bill: S 3222.
Purpose and intent
- The bill aims to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and preparation at multiple education levels in New Jersey. It requires K-12 instruction in cybersecurity for grades 9–12, directs state agencies to develop model curricula for higher education, and creates a loan redemption program to encourage individuals to pursue and remain in cybersecurity occupations.
Key provisions
1) K-12 cybersecurity instruction (Section 2)
- School districts must incorporate cybersecurity instruction for students in grades 9–12.
- Instruction is to be aligned with the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Computer Science and Design Thinking.
- Curriculum must be age-appropriate, thorough, and based on guidelines established by the Commissioner of Education under the bill.
- The instruction should be included in the grade levels in a manner adapted to student understanding.
2) State curriculum guidelines for K-12 (Section 3)
- The Commissioner of Education, with input from:
- Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness
- New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell
- Must develop sequential curriculum guidelines for grades 9–12, including:
- Intro to cybersecurity and common terminology
- Safe Internet use and privacy protections
- Fundamentals of hardware/software and operating systems
- Basic to advanced cybersecurity skills (e.g., networking, coding)
- Examples of research projects and applied activities
- Post-secondary opportunities and cybersecurity career pathways
- Guidelines must include model instructional units, learning objectives, and recommended instructional materials.
- Guidelines are to be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect current cybersecurity knowledge.
3) Higher education model curricula (Section 4)
- Within one year of enactment, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the New Jersey Presidents’ Council) must develop:
- A cybersecurity model curriculum for four-year institutions
- A cybersecurity model curriculum for county colleges
- Purpose: assist four-year institutions and county colleges in developing cybersecurity degree programs.
- Model curricula requirements (minimum):
- A comprehensive sequence of courses for postsecondary preparedness
- A list of courses suitable for cybersecurity degree programs
- Any non-course requirements for degree programs
- Expected student outcomes for overall programs and individual courses
- Additional effort:
- Develop and distribute cybersecurity career pathway marketing materials to describe careers and benefits of pursuing cybersecurity
- Coordination with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority
- Definitions: The section reaffirms the definition of cybersecurity for purposes of the model curricula.
4) Definitions and terminology (Section 5)
- Clarifies terms used throughout the bill, including:
- "Approved cybersecurity degree program"
- "Cybersecurity" (definition)
- "Qualifying loan" and related terms used in the loan redemption provisions
- Roles of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) and other entities
5) Cybersecurity loan redemption program (Section 6; partial text available)
- Establishes a Cybersecurity Loan Redemption Program within HESAA.
- The program is designed to provide loan redemption assistance to participants in exchange for employment in approved cybersecurity occupations.
- The text provided indicates a payout of $1,000 per year of employment for program participants, but full details are truncated in the material available.
Who would be affected
- K-12 students (grades 9–12) and their districts, through mandated cybersecurity instruction.
- Higher education institutions (four-year colleges and county colleges) for the development and adoption of model cybersecurity curricula.
- Students pursuing cybersecurity degrees (eligible under the “approved cybersecurity degree program” framework).
- Individuals with qualifying student loans, who may participate in the loan redemption program.
- State agencies and authorities (DOE, Higher Education, Labor, Economic Development Authority, Homeland Security and Preparedness, NJ Presidents’ Council) involved in curriculum development, workforce development, and outreach.
Timeline and procedural notes
- Model K-12 guidelines: to be developed by the Commissioner of Education (in consultation) with annual review.
- Higher education model curricula: to be developed within one year after enactment.
- Guidelines and materials to be updated periodically to reflect current cybersecurity knowledge.
- The bill is in the introduced stage and may be amended by the committee and during the legislative process.
Overall impact
- Aims to create a structured, standardized approach to cybersecurity education from high school through higher education.
- Seeks to build a prepared workforce by coupling education with a state-backed loan redemption incentive.
- Potential fiscal implications depend on funding levels for the loan redemption program and the costs of developing and maintaining model curricula.
