H.R. 7885 — Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act

This section states the purpose of the Act to improve cybersecurity competencies of the critical infrastructure workforce—particularly operators of critical infrastructure technology—by developing postsecondary career and technical education programs that integrate cybersecurity education.

This section establishes a pilot grant program under which the Secretary of Education awards competitive grants of up to $500,000 per fiscal year to eligible partnerships for (1) developing and implementing postsecondary career and technical education programs that incorporate cybersecurity education (i.e., on critical infrastructure cyber defense) and prepare individuals for in-demand occupations in critical infrastructure sectors; and (2) integrating such cybersecurity education into existing postsecondary career and technical education programs. In awarding grants, the Secretary must consult with the Secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; ensure regional diversity among grantees; and require applications to describe partner roles, targeted sectors and occupations, workforce needs, alignment with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, assessments or capstone projects, work-based learning, pathways to credentials and employment, annual curriculum updates on sector-specific threats, post-grant sustainability, diversity promotion, and planned uses of funds. Grantees must submit annual reports on fund uses, disaggregated credentials awarded, curriculum updates, and post-program employment rates in targeted occupations; and $10 million is authorized to carry out the program.