Friends of Chapter 74 Vocational Technical, & Agricultural Education,
We are most pleased to share this exciting news that Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical and Westfield Technical Academy are two of only 11 high schools across Massachusetts that will participate in the College Board’s AP Career Kickstart Cybersecurity Pilot.
We are pleased to share a news article concerning Blackstone Valley and are awaiting an article from the Westfield news media.
David
Blackstone Valley Tech to host Cybersecurity Education pilot for AP Students
March 27, 2025
BURLINGTON – Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is one of 11 high schools across Massachusetts that will participate in the College Board’s AP Career Kickstart Cybersecurity Pilot, a national initiative aimed at expanding access to cybersecurity education and preparing students for careers in one of the fastest-growing fields in the nation. Most colleges will award students credit for AP scores of 3 or higher. This pilot, designed to introduce cybersecurity concepts into Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, will provide students with foundational knowledge in cybersecurity and exposure to industry pathways, along with the opportunity to gain college credit.
“In Massachusetts, we want to open doors for our young people, especially to STEM pathways. This pilot is a great opportunity for our students to learn about cybersecurity and have an opportunity to gain college credit for it,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By empowering them to see STEM as a viable, exciting pathway to their future, we will inspire the next generation of innovators.”
This announcement by the Healey administration was made during a STEM Advisory Council meeting at the Northeastern University Biopharma Analysis Training Laboratory (BATL) in Burlington, an organization used by one of the Pilot recipients, Burlington High School, in their Innovation Career Pathways Information Systems program. Schools participating in the pilot program, like Burlington High School, will receive access to College Board resources to support implementation, including curriculum materials and guidance on integrating cybersecurity concepts into AP coursework, as well as training and professional development for educators. Participating schools will pilot the program in the 2025-2026 academic year, with the goal of scaling successful models.
“Whether it’s an AP course, an Early College Program or another pathway offering, we want to provide students with the opportunities that will help them realize their dreams in fields like cybersecurity and beyond,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I am looking forward to seeing this pilot in some of our schools this coming school year.”
Massachusetts is home to a cybersecurity sector employing over 30,000 cybersecurity workers according to Cyberseek data. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlights the growing demand for cyber fields nationally as Information Security Analysts employment is expected to grow by over 30 percent over the next 10 years. The AP Career Kickstart Cybersecurity Pilot aligns with the administration’s broader workforce development and STEM education priorities, ensuring that students are prepared for the future economy. This initiative also aligns with the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council’s mission to promote STEM education and workforce readiness, furthering the administration’s commitment to fostering high-demand STEM fields through targeted investments and educational programs.
The program will be implemented with support from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and aims to engage industry and higher education partners to enhance learning opportunities. Schools participating in the pilot will have access to College Board resources to support implementation, including curriculum materials and guidance on integrating cybersecurity concepts into AP coursework.
This pilot follows Massachusetts’ student success with AP courses. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced last month that a third of students who graduated from Massachusetts public high schools in 2024 scored a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, the state’s highest percentage ever and the highest in the nation for the second year in a row, according to results released by the College Board. A score of 3 out of 5 on an AP exam shows a student’s ability to complete work for an introductory college-level course in that subject area. Additionally, Massachusetts continues to see gains in the percentage of Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students who take an AP exam while in high school.
For more information on the AP Career Kickstart Cybersecurity Pilot, visit College Board’s website.
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira