IL HJR0108

Urges the Illinois State Board of Education to establish a P-12 Cyber Threat Response Team by the 2020-2021 school year to address cybersecurity incidents affecting schools

The response team would provide assistance to public schools, early childhood providers, and special education facilities across Illinois when facing cybersecurity threats

Cites 122 publicly-disclosed cybersecurity incidents affecting 199 public K-12 education agencies across 38 states during 2018, with new incidents reported every three days

References specific Illinois incidents including an August 2019 data breach exposing personal information of 53,000 students and 3,100 educators in Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204

Notes a September 2019 ransomware attack that left Rockford Public Schools without Internet or student record access for several days

Models the proposed team after Arkansas's P-12 Cyber Threat Response Team, which provides free onsite IT support to school districts facing cyber threats