Washington, DC - August 26, 2016 - What do more than 870,000 students across the nation have in common?
Since 2012, they have all completed the FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge. Available through a free website, this initiative promotes cyber citizenship by teaching students in third through eighth grades how to recognize and respond to online dangers through a series of fun, interactive activities.
Anyone can visit the website and learn all about cyber safety, but teachers must sign up their school to enable their students to take the exam and participate in the national competition. Once enrolled, teachers are given access to a secure webpage to enroll their students (anonymously, by numeric test keys) and request their test scores. E-mail customer support is also provided. Top-scoring schools each month are recognized by their local FBI field office when possible. All public, private, and home schools with at least five students are welcome to participate.
Now entering its fifth season, the FBI-SOS program has seen increased participation each year. From September 2015 through May 2016, nearly a half-million students nationwide finished the activities and took the exam. We look forward to even more young people completing the program in the school year ahead. The challenge begins September 1.
A Sampling of Teacher Comments from the 2015-2106 School Year
“My 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students LOVE Cyber Surf Islands!”
“We will begin using your site! It’s awesome!”
“We have been in your program for the last three years and have gotten good response from the students and parents about your program.”
“Thank you for providing a wonderful learning experience for students.”
“I love the program and want my students to participate.”
“This was a very good exercise. I plan on doing it again next year.”
“Thank you for such a great resource!”