Education
BY HALEY VELASCO & CATHERINE WHITE
Clear Creek ISD to apply for local, state cybersecurity grant
Open enrollment grows at CCISD
Features of the internal penetration test
Network mapping: Identify all devices and connections on the internal network Vulnerability assessment: Scan for outdated software and weak passwords
As Clear Creek ISD’s open enrollment application closed in mid-January, 185 students outside of the district’s boundaries have applied to attend CCISD for the 2026-27 school year, district o cials said. The district’s open enrollment program has grown after the board of trustees approved an expansion of it in February 2025. The revised policy gives the super- intendent authority to accept or reject transfer requests based on district policy, sta ng and space availability, as previously reported by Community Impact. The details The district received a total of 218 appli- cations representing 182 unique students, as some applied to multiple programs or campuses, district o cials said.
Clear Creek ISD will apply for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, or SLCGP, following board approval at its Feb. 2 meeting to support continued evaluation of the district’s cybersecurity status and identify potential vulnerabilities. The details The SLCGP provides funding to assess cyberse- curity protections for critical systems, including nancial records and operational systems, according to district documents. If awarded, the district would use funding to conduct an internal penetration test, which simulates cyber attack conditions, according to district documents.
Simulated attacks: Test for possible entry points
Data protection: Verify that critical les are secure
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next Following the Feb. 12 application deadline, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will notify districts of their grant status later in 2026.
San Jacinto College launches emergency alert app San Jacinto College launched SJC AlertMe, a free mobile application to keep students, employees and surrounding community members informed of emergencies, according to a Jan. 21 news release from the college. The app will deliver real-time noti cations about weather closures, critical campus updates and urgent safety alerts. What you need to know Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the app features include: • Incident reporting • Campus maps, emergency procedures and key contacts—accessible even o ine • Optional location sharing and “Friend Walk” features
“At San Jacinto College, the well-being of our students, employees and visitors is always our top priority. SJC AlertMe enhances our ability to communicate quickly and e ectively, while
also giving individuals tools to take an active role in their own safety.” ALI SHAH, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, SAN JACINTO COLLEGE
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