As mentioned in last week’s
Technology Update, Washington USD will be applying for E-rate for the 2016-2017
school year. E-Rate is a federally funded program that
provides discounts to assist schools to obtain affordable Internet access and telecommunications
services.
Five service types are funded:
1.
Data Transmission Services and Internet Access
2.
Voice Services
3.
Internal Connections
4.
Managed Internal Broadband Services
5.
Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
Discounts range from 20-90 percent
of the costs of eligible services, depending on the level of poverty and the
urban/rural status at the school district level. Our current district
average is 59% which puts us at an 80% discount per the USAC (Universal Services
Administrative Company) Discount Matrix
The
E-rate Program is one of four programs funded through a universal service fee
charged to companies that provide interstate and/or international
telecommunications services. The Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC) administers the universal service fund at the direction of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
Funding is divided into two
categories:
- Category 1: Discounts (80%) on Data Transmission Services and Internet Access, and (40%) Voice Services
- Category 2: Reimbursement ($150 per student, minimum of $9,200 per school site) for equipment for Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
What does this mean to you and your
classroom?
A requirement of E-Rate is that
students are taught Internet Safety Education
Requirements outlined in the Children's
Internet Protection Act (CIPA). We are using Common
Sense Media curriculum for standards-aligned, researched-bases
lesson plans that meet these requirements. Many of these lessons are
low-tech using only pen and paper and can be completed in approximately an
hour.
At a minimum, we
are asking that you include the lesson(s) below for your grade level as part of
your curriculum. As you are winding down for the winter break, now might
be a good time to incorporate the lesson(s) into your instructional day (see
links to lessons by grade level).
After completing
the lesson, please complete the verification
form and send it to Kim Harrison or Melissa Oliver at
the district office. The verification form will be used to validate our
compliance for E-Rate. You are welcome to cover more than just the
lessons outlined above – check out the Scope and
Sequence of Common Sense Media’s lessons.
If you have
questions, we are here to assist!
Kim
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