This grant provided funding to Lexington City Schools to establish a Cybersecurity Academy. The Academy created a new pipeline of courses and opportunities for students to establish a workforce of highly trained and credentialed technicians who were prepared to meet the cybersecurity demand in the local and regional areas. The district anticipated enrolling 24 students per year beginning in August 2020, with 80% of students completing the pathway by the end of their senior year. Lexington City Schools partnered with Davidson County Community College, local businesses, and industry to establish internship and apprenticeship programs and courses that offered students the opportunity to earn third-party credentials. The students began at the middle school level with exploratory programs followed by a sequence of classes completed at the high school and community college level. Upon successful completion, students left high school with a certification in cybersecurity and could either begin their careers or continue their education toward a post-secondary degree in the cybersecurity field. Golden LEAF funds were used for some costs of the students taking Career and College Promise courses, professional development, and other program expenses necessary to implement a cybersecurity program.
