 Lines of Effort 1.1.1 Enhance foundational cyber skills learning opportunities through Federal investments. The NCWCG will coordinate with the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on STEM, led by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and departments and agencies to maximize federal investments in foundational cyber skills and foster alignment to existing standards and frameworks. Areas of focus include existing programs and initiatives, grant opportunities, and technical assistance. The NCWCG will coordinate the dissemination of criteria for department and agency solicitations to improve consistency across funding opportunities. Departments and agencies will explore publicly sharing models and resources for teaching foundational cyber skills that are produced through grants and contracts. ONCD and the NCWCG will work with departments and agencies to include, where appropriate and legally permissible, requirements for digital inclusion plans in federal grants to minimize barriers that could inhibit participation in the learning opportunities funded by the grant. Digital inclusion plans will take into account the needs and perspectives of local communities, including those that are underrepresented and underserved.48 1.1.2 Foster ecosystem approaches to enhance foundational cyber skill learning opportunities. Industry experts, educators, colleges and universities, community organizations, and relevant professional societies are encouraged to create content for use in teaching foundational cyber skills. This content should be made publicly available to ecosystem stakeholders, including state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, education agencies, academia, libraries, communitybased organizations, and businesses. Potential models include Digital US,49 a coalition that includes employers, service providers, and philanthropists, and the Future Workforce Now initiative,50 led by the National Governors Association, which seeks to close technological and digital literacy gaps. 1.1.3 Encourage the development of an open knowledge network for foundational cyber skills. SLTT governments, industry, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to partner in the development of a non-proprietary, web-based open knowledge network (OKN) containing resources on foundational cyber skills.51 A comprehensive and public effort to develop a nationwide OKN would enable the costs to be distributed while building a large stakeholder base. Departments and agencies will explore opportunities to support the development of an OKN through existing programs, and make available learning resources produced through federal investments. NATIONAL CYBER WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION STRATEGY 10

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