Clear Creek ISD will apply for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, or SLCGP, following board approval at its Feb. 2 meeting to support continued evaluation of the district’s cybersecurity status and identify potential vulnerabilities.
The details
The SLCGP provides funding to eligible entities to assess and strengthen cybersecurity protections for critical systems and data, including student and staff information, financial records, and operational systems, according to district documents.
If awarded, the district would use funding to conduct an internal cybersecurity penetration test, which simulates real-world conditions in the event of a cyber attack, according to district documents.
The background
The district used funding from the program for fiscal year 2024-25 to complete an independent external penetration test, or “black box” testing, which determines whether someone without credentials could gain access to district systems.
The assessment found that testers were unable to gain access to internal accounts or systems, according to district documents.
The proposed application would expand testing to include an internal, credentialed penetration test that would provide a more realistic evaluation of cybersecurity risks, according to district documents.
What’s next
Following the Feb. 12 application deadline, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will review applications and notify districts of their grant status later in 2026.
