Our world is at a crossroads. We live in an Internet of Everything where our devices, systems, and lives are connected on a massive scale. We can control assets, security systems, televisions and even refrigerators remotely, with one single touch on a smartphone. All personal, classified, industry and financial information is floating in cyberspace. Without an extensive call to action, our infrastructure is more vulnerable than ever.

The level and complexity of cyber attacks is evolving significantly. This leaves business and government agencies vulnerable and without a clear direction on how to strengthen security as we have a deficit of cyber security professionals. The most recent Global Information Workforce Study estimated that the workforce gap is growing quickly, with a projected shortage reaching 1.8 million professionals by 2022.

Gov. Larry Hogan signed the Computer Science Education and Professional Development Executive Order on Nov. 2, 2017. It declared computer science a priority in Maryland public schools. The order was further supported by legislation passed by the General Assembly of Maryland in April 2018 requiring all public high schools in the state to offer a computer science course by the 2021-2022 academic school year (House Bill 281 — Securing the Future: Computer Science Education for All).

In response to both the legislation and updated National Computer Science Standards from the Computer Science Teachers Association, there became a need for Maryland computer science standards. The Maryland State Department of Education convened a statewide design team comprised of computer science teachers, local school district central office personnel, members of local industry, representatives from higher education, and individuals from non-profit organizations. The Maryland K-12 Academic Standards for Computer Science place a considerable emphasis on cyber security concepts to meet the needs of Maryland’s workforce and economic development.