AP Cyber Security and programming numbers

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Erin Sumner

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Feb 19, 2026, 11:44:02 AMFeb 19
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Hello everyone

I have a couple of questions.  Our district is looking into adding AP Cybersecurity for the 27-28 school year. I am trying to find out who DPI wants to teach it, without much luck on their website.

Can a Computer Science license teach it? 
Can a business license teach it?

Also, the course description says there are no prerequisites. So, for those of you piloting it this year could you answer these questions?

What grades are mature enough to be successful in the course?
Do the students need any programming background?

Lastly, the number of computer science enrollments for next school year are coming in and I have heard from administrators that it is not just our school who had a decline in enrollment.  

Have you had a decline?

Thank you for your time. 


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Erin Sumner
Grafton High School Teacher
Math/Computer Science/FTC Advisor






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Arneson, Denise A

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Feb 19, 2026, 12:22:00 PMFeb 19
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I can only speak to the licenses that are already teaching cybersecurity courses - Computer Science License - Yes 

Per students who have taken both programming and cybersecurity courses it was a resounding no we didn't need to know any programming to do the cybersecurity course

Getting students to take the AP courses is becoming difficult I have done my own personal surveying, and the most common reason is fear of getting a bad grade - essentially not an A.  


Denise Arneson

AP/ Computer Science Facilitator

ATCC High School

414-902-7915


From: wi-csandi...@googlegroups.com <wi-csandi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Erin Sumner <esu...@grafton.k12.wi.us>
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Subject: [WI-csandit-teachers] AP Cyber Security and programming numbers
 

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Marsh, Nicholas

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Feb 19, 2026, 3:06:10 PMFeb 19
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We will be running AP Cyber next year. I am uncertain about an instructor with a business license but a CS license is fine.  Those that I have spoken to have mentioned that not only does the course not require any programming knowledge, it doesn't seem to require any substantive practical experience either. (Linux commands, etc.)

It is definitely not just you.  Our enrollments are down as well. 

We went on a hardcore recruitment push for the past year and enrollments in the upper level comp sci courses still dropped. 

Students seem to be looking for the easy A, even if they aren't learning anything even remotely useful or engaging. 


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Nicholas J Marsh
Homestead High School
Computer Science

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Bires, Amy J. DPI

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Feb 19, 2026, 3:42:01 PMFeb 19
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I can speak towards the licensure question.  The license required to teach a course should be based on which standards you are implementing. If you are using the newly revised 2025 Computer Science standards, then you will need to hold a Computer Science teaching license.  

I am including links to the Business & Information Technology Standards (updated in 2024) and the Technology and Engineering Standards (updated in 2024) so individuals can review those as well. 

In November, the College Board provided us with a Crosswalk of their AP Cybersecurity Learning Objectives and our updated standards - please see the attached document for more details. 

Amy  


Amy Bires
Computer Science and Digital Learning Innovation Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction



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Subject: Re: [WI-csandit-teachers] AP Cyber Security and programming numbers
 

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Wisconsin Computer Science Standards to AP Cybersecurity Crosswalk.pdf

Kania, Michael

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Feb 19, 2026, 3:42:08 PMFeb 19
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Not a fan of the AP Cyber curriculum after reviewing it. The exciting pieces in a Cyber class for kids are using things like John The Ripper, Metasploit, War Games, CTFs, etc. and I don't think that class includes those types of activities. Maybe you can fit some of those things in though. Cyber.org is an excellent starting point for some of those labs; CyberRange is a great resource for War Games and CTFs; and Terminus is a fun get to know Linux activity to complete during the initial unit.

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Amy Soquet

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Feb 21, 2026, 3:06:54 PMFeb 21
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The Personal Finance requirement kicks in next year for the current sophomores. I have to wonder if that has anything to do with numbers going down in addition to students wanting an easy "A".  For schools that didn't already require that course, those students have to come from somewhere...

Our AP number is also down for next year 😒

Mrs. Amy Soquet
Computer Science
De Pere High School


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