Cooperative agreement for elevatededaz (with the greater phoenix chamber foundation): purpose: the elevateedaz: cybersecurity pathway initiative aims to establish pathway programs that will prepare…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach program (CFDA 11.620) provides $381,600.00 to the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to establish cybersecurity career and technical education (CTE) pathways in Arizona high schools. The project aims to create a replicable model and implementation plan for a cybersecurity pathway program that engages 120 students in over 300 work-based learning opportunities. Key activities include cybersecurity bootcamps, assessments, workshops, and partnerships to build technical skills and competencies for the cybersecurity workforce. The project also includes a $15,000 subaward to the Center for the Future of Arizona. The overall goal is to expand opportunities in cybersecurity careers, with a focus on serving marginalized communities, and to support the integration of the NICE Framework into cybersecurity education and workforce development.

Activities

The proposed project will leverage partnerships within the community, connecting with local high schools, professional organizations, and higher education institutions over a two-year grant period. The project aims to create a replicate model and implementation plan for a cybersecurity pathway program. The project will enable student-work-based learning opportunities that allow students to engage in CTE programming and career exploration. The development of the pathways program will be executed through cyber security bootcamps, assessments, workshops, professional development opportunities, and partnerships to build technical skills and competencies for the cyber security workforce.

Expected outcomes

Success in this project will result in the implementation of cybersecurity CTE pathways in select schools across the state of arizona. The project's anticipated outcomes will measure the engagement, participation, and progress of 120 students enrolled in over 300 cybersecurity work-based opportunities. The anticipated impacts and evaluation processes will address the nice strategic goals that will expand the use of the nice framework by building an ecosystem that promotes and connects cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.

Intended beneficiaries

The broader public will benefit from the work of this project. Documentation and publication of the program results will help support the expansion of the pathways programs, reaching additional high school and higher education students from local to statewide. Local industry will also benefit from the project as an increased supply of talent, prepared with knowledge and skills demanded by industry, will be available to enter the workforce pipeline.

Subrecipient activities

Subawards to center for the future of arizona ($ 15,000).