Fortinet releases a free 2 year cybersecurity curriculum for US high schools to teach students computer safety skills and job training.
Global cybersecurity leader Fortinet has launched a free, comprehensive two-year cybersecurity learning program designed specifically for high schools across the United States.
Released through the Fortinet Training Institute, the new educational pathway provides high schools, teachers, and career directors with ready to use lesson plans, practical classroom activities, and complete instructor guidebooks without charging any fees.
The 2 course curriculum takes students from basic digital safety concepts up to advanced technical skills like network defense, coding security, and data protection.
By giving schools access to professional training resources, the initiative turns everyday classrooms into training grounds for future cybersecurity professionals.
The official public launch of the Technical High School Cybersecurity Curriculum was announced on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Available to secondary school districts across North America, the program has already entered early testing phases inside major public school systems, including Chicago Public Schools.
Designed to span two full academic years, the first year course focuses on core concepts like internet safety, computer networks, and career opportunities.
The second year course dives into hands on technical topics like encoding secret data, securing mobile phones, managing digital risks, and stopping network attacks.
The primary reason Fortinet created this free educational curriculum is that the global cybersecurity industry faces a massive shortage of trained professionals.
Businesses, government offices, and healthcare systems around the world are constantly searching for skilled workers to stop dangerous computer hackers, but there are simply not enough qualified people to fill open job vacancies.
Furthermore, many public high schools lack the funding or specialized computer science teachers required to build advanced security courses from scratch.
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Explaining why introducing computer defense concepts to secondary school students is critical for solving long term industry staffing shortages, Director of Training and Learning Programs at the Fortinet Training Institute Melonia da Gama said, “Closing the cybersecurity skills gap starts in the classroom, long before a student enters the workforce”.
Highlighting Fortinet’s ongoing pledge to make computer defense training accessible to all young people regardless of local school funding, Melonia da Gama added, “This launch reflects our commitment to making cybersecurity education accessible to every school, and more importantly, every student, regardless of existing resources”.
Detailing how participating in early classroom testing gives local educators a chance to evaluate high quality training materials for high demand jobs, High School Computer Science Manager for Chicago Public Schools Daniel Patterson stated, “Chicago Public Schools is committed to preparing students for high demand careers in cybersecurity through rigorous, industry-aligned learning experiences”.
Emphasizing why testing these new educational resources helps educators guide students toward future college programs and careers, Daniel Patterson noted, “Participating in an early pilot provides an opportunity for our educators to evaluate the curriculum, provide meaningful feedback, and help shape high quality instructional resources”.
By releasing free cybersecurity training programs to secondary schools, Fortinet is helping bridge the global technology skills gap.
Teaching young students how to defend computer networks ensures that local schools prepare kids for well paying future jobs while building a safer digital environment for everyone.
About the Author
Jennifer Sakmufuwo Baba is a tech analyst, senior staff, and writer covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity , and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, she's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. Her work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
