S. 5098

119 S5098 IS: Enhancing K–12 Cybersecurity Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-07-23
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5098  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 23, 2026   Mrs. Blackburn  (for herself and  Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs    A BILL
To direct the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to establish a K–12 Cybersecurity Technology Improvement Program, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Enhancing K–12 Cybersecurity Act  .
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Covered entity
The term  covered entity  means the following:
(A)
An elementary school.
(B)
A secondary school.
(C)
A local educational agency.
(D)
A State educational agency.
(E)
An educational service agency.
(2)
Director
The term  Director  means the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
(3)
Educational service agency
The term  educational service agency  has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ).
(4)
Elementary school
The term  elementary school  has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ).
(5)
Information Exchange
The term  Information Exchange  means the School Cybersecurity Information Exchange established under section 3(a).
(6)
Information Sharing and Analysis Organization
The term  Information Sharing and Analysis Organization  has the meaning given that term in section 2200 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 650 ).
(7)
Local educational agency
The term  local educational agency  has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ).
(8)
Secondary school
The term  secondary school  has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ).
(9)
State educational agency
The term  State educational agency  has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ).
3.
School cybersecurity information exchange
(a)
Establishment
The Director shall enhance existing information exchange efforts implemented through partnerships with 1 or more Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations to focus specific attention on the needs of covered entities with regard to cybersecurity, including a new publicly accessible website (to be known as the  School Cybersecurity Information Exchange ) to disseminate information, cybersecurity best practices, training, and lessons learned tailored to the specific needs of, technical expertise of, and resources available to covered entities, in accordance with subsection (b).
(b)
Duties
In establishing the Information Exchange, the Director shall—
(1)
engage appropriate Federal, State, local, and nongovernmental organizations to identify, promote, and disseminate information and best practices for State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and educational service agencies with respect to cybersecurity, data protection, remote learning security, and student online privacy;
(2)
maintain a database through which an elementary school, secondary school, local educational agency, State educational agency, or educational service agency may identify cybersecurity tools and services funded by the Federal Government and tools and services recommended for purchase with State and local government funding; and
(3)
provide a searchable database through which covered entities may find and apply for funding opportunities to improve cybersecurity.
(c)
Consultation
In carrying out the duties under subsection (b), the Director shall consult with the following:
(1)
The Secretary of Education.
(2)
The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(3)
The Federal Communications Commission.
(4)
The Director of the National Science Foundation.
(5)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(6)
State and local leaders, including, when appropriate, Governors, employees of State departments and agencies, members of State legislatures and State boards of education, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, representatives of Indian Tribes, teachers, principals, other school leaders, charter school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, school administrators, other school staff, and parents.
(7)
When determined appropriate by the Director, subject matter experts and expert organizations, including nongovernmental organizations, vendors of school information technology products and services, cybersecurity insurance companies, and cybersecurity threat companies.
4.
Cybersecurity incident registry
(a)
In general
The Director shall—
(1)
establish, through partnerships with 1 or more Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations, a voluntary registry of information relating to cyber incidents affecting information technology systems owned or managed by a covered entity; and
(2)
determine the scope of cyber incidents to be included in the registry and processes by which incidents can be reported for collection in the registry.
(b)
Use
Information in the registry established pursuant to subsection (a) may be used to—
(1)
improve data collection and coordination activities related to the nationwide monitoring of the incidence and impact of cyber incidents affecting a covered entity;
(2)
conduct analyses regarding trends in cyber incidents affecting a covered entity;
(3)
develop systematic approaches to assist a covered entity in preventing and responding to cyber incidents;
(4)
increase the awareness and preparedness of a covered entity regarding the cybersecurity of the covered entity; and
(5)
identify, prevent, or investigate cyber incidents targeting a covered entity.
(c)
Information collection
(1)
In general
The Director may collect information relating to cyber incidents to store in the registry established pursuant to subsection (a).
(2)
Submission of information
Information relating to a cyber incident may be submitted by a covered entity and may include the following:
(A)
The date of the cyber incident, including the date on which the incident was initially detected and the date on which the incident was first publicly reported or disclosed to another entity.
(B)
A description of the cyber incident, which shall include whether the incident was as a result of a breach, malware, distributed denial of service attack, or other method designed to cause a vulnerability.
(C)
The effects of the cyber incident, including descriptions of the type and size of each such incident.
(D)
Other information determined relevant by the Director.
(d)
Report
The Director shall make available on the Information Exchange an annual report relating to cyber incidents affecting elementary schools and secondary schools which includes data, and the analysis of such data, in a manner that—
(1)
is—
(A)
de-identified; and
(B)
presented in the aggregate; and
(2)
at a minimum, protects personal privacy to the extent required by applicable Federal and State privacy laws.
5.
K–12 Cybersecurity Technology Improvement program
(a)
Establishment
The Director shall establish, through partnerships with 1 or more Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations, a program (to be known as the  K–12 Cybersecurity Technology Improvement Program ) to deploy cybersecurity capabilities to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems of elementary schools and secondary schools through—
(1)
the development of cybersecurity strategies and installation of effective cybersecurity tools tailored for covered entities;
(2)
making available cybersecurity services that enhance the ability of elementary schools and secondary schools to protect themselves from ransomware and other cybersecurity threats; and
(3)
providing training opportunities on cybersecurity threats, best practices, and relevant technologies for elementary schools and secondary schools.
(b)
Report
The Director shall make available on the Information Exchange an annual report relating to the impact of the K–12 Cybersecurity Technology Improvement Program, including information on the cybersecurity capabilities made available to information technology systems owned or managed by covered entities, the number of students served, and cybersecurity incidents identified or prevented.
6.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028.