A study by the National Cyber Security Alliance released today finds that America’s schools are ill-prepared to teach students the basics of online safety and security. This news comes just as Consumer Reports is about to release its own disturbing findings about children’s online security from the 2011 Consumer Reports State of the Net survey.

The study NCSA released today found that only 55 percent of teachers strongly agree that cybersecurity should be taught in schools as part of the curriculum, and that more than one-third of teachers received no professional development by school districts for issues related to online safety and security. For more of the findings, see the full report [PDF].

The 2011 Consumer Reports State of the Net Survey, our seventh annual survey of online U.S. households, examines a variety of risks to children online, including their use of social networks and cyberbullying. Its findings, with important implications for parents, government, and the social networks themselves, will be published within the next week.

Extensive findings from the survey, including issues of adult security, will also be highlighted on this blog as they are made public.

Related:
Consumer Reports Guide to Online Security