Board approves AP Cybersecurity course to add district career pathway

The Webster Central School District board approved a new AP Cybersecurity course at its Dec. 9 meeting after a presentation by staff and teachers describing the College Board curriculum and career‑pathway opportunities.

Jim McEntee and Sage Miller outlined the course as equivalent to a one‑semester college introduction to cybersecurity with no prerequisites, five scenario‑based units and four core skill areas: analyzing risk, detecting attacks, mitigating risk and collaborating. Miller said the course is part of the College Board’s career “kickstart” designation, which pairs AP content with industry‑relevant credentials.

"It would be like their first course if they're going into that field," Miller said, explaining that the program includes authentic, job‑style scenarios and could lead directly to certifications for students not pursuing a four‑year degree.

Board members asked about dual‑credit and college acceptance; presenters said the framework is from the College Board and that pilot and rollout timing is controlled by the AP program. The transcript records a discussion about initial pilots and the AP timeline: presenters said a pilot may occur before a full rollout in the 2026–27 school year.

The board moved to approve the course (motion by Jeff; second by Michelle). The transcript records the roll call of "Aye" in favor; no detailed vote tally by name appears in the record.

Next steps noted at the meeting included finalizing staffing and scheduling to offer the course, outreach to families about the new option, and exploring local college or industry partnerships for credentials.

Action: The board approved implementation of the AP Cybersecurity course and the district will proceed with scheduling and program setup.