The Louisiana Board of Education has approved Cyber Engineering as one of 11 new graduation pathways in the state.

"This pathway is a more formal approach in education. So it's actually high school courses that the students will take for high school credit. They'll also be able to have some of the courses count as AP (Advanced Placement) credit, with dual enrollment," Cyber Innovation Center Vice President G.B. Cazes told KEEL News. "It also links into industry certification. So a student can graduate from this pathway and will have a wide array of opportunities in the job market, whether they graduate just from high school and don't go any further, or they go to a community college or to a four-year university."

Cazes said this is about empowering teachers with cutting-edge, leading content for the classroom that's delivered in an entirely new way than anyone from earlier generations learned previously.

"This is no textbook. It's hands-on learning, it's project-driven learning, it's about teamwork and communication. And it integrates STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts with liberal arts disciplines, as well," Cazes said. "It is an entirely new classroom, and entirely new learning environment, geared towards how this generation of students learns and how they want to be taught."

Cazes said this focus will be an elective, so if a student wants to take Physics, this curriculum can be implemented. It's similar to a student who's interested in music might take band or choir, or someone interested in art might choose that as a course.

With last week's approval, the Cyber Engineering content is available now, but will most likely be implemented in local schools next school year. Cazes said this could lead to big job opportunities following graduation, too -- possibly at Cyber Innovation Center.

"Very possible they'll work with the tenants of our Research Park. The CSC announced a year ago 800 jobs," Cazes said. "These students, if they graduate with these certifications and these degrees, will have great opportunities to be hired immediately after graduation."

K-12 teachers wishing to implement this curriculum can get it free. CLICK HERE to register.

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