K12 SIX Updates K-12 Cybersecurity Recommendations for 2026

The K12 SIX Technical Working Group is pleased to announce the public availability of the 2026 updates to its popular ‘K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections’ series of products. The series includes three interrelated products:

• What K-12 Leaders Need to Know - a short list of actionable cybersecurity defenses that all school districts should prioritize for implementation

• Implementation Rubrics – defines implementation standards for each of the K12 SIX recommended defenses

• District Self-Assessment Tool - helps K-12 leaders prioritize time and resources in communicating about and addressing the cybersecurity risks facing their school community and kickstarting their cybersecurity plans

Developed by K-12 IT practitioners, for K-12 IT practitioners—and aligned to cybersecurity risk management best practices—the K12 SIX Essentials series establishes baseline cybersecurity standards for U.S. school systems and provides guidance and tools to support their implementation. K12 SIX-recommended practices are designed to defend against the most common cyber threats facing school districts, including those identified by K12 SIX, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the U.S. Department of Education (ED), school insurance carriers, and other experts.

Updates to the series are made annually. K-12 practitioners and other interested parties are invited to share their feedback on the series by completing this form or contacting us directly.