Many districts across the country are grappling with teacher shortages large and small. Limited federal data show, as of October 2022, 45% of public schools had at least one teacher vacancy; that's after the school year had already begun.

Officials in communities like Robert Lee ISD, which has a population of about 1,000, warn vouchers will chip away at already razor-thin public school budgets. With only 250 students — about 18 children per grade—even a slight drop in enrollment and funding can force rural schools to make hard decisions.

Across the country, teacher turnover is hitting historic highs and undercutting enrollment growth, but not all who leave the profession are finding better jobs.

"Finally, we have a framework, rubric and training designed for education," said Frankie Jackson, project lead for the Cybersecurity Rubric for Education. "Schools can expose risks and create a strategic plan to improve cybersecurity."