eSchool News | E-rate Funding Archives

3 ways the E-rate program helps level up learning

Laura Ascione — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The federal E-rate program continues to provide expanded access to technology, including edtech tools, digital learning resources, and high-speed internet access, to schools, according to an annual report that takes stock of the program’s progress.

The findings come from E-rate compliance services firm Funds For Learning‘s 12th annual E-rate Trends Report. The report is designed to understand how the program can best serve schools and libraries. Stakeholder input is compiled and delivered directly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to inform program administration.

Key findings from the 2022 report include:

E-rate has provided greater accessibility to technology in schools. Out of all of the applicants who completed the survey, 87 percent of participants agreed that their education sites have faster Internet connections due to the E-rate program. Eighty-six percent of educators also feel that their students and library patrons are more connected to the internet than ever.

E-rate remains a dependable and necessary program for education. The E-rate platform has been proven vital for learning operations by 94 percent of respondents. When it comes to how many participants can depend on funding year over year, 89 percent of applicants reported feeling like they could depend on the E-rate program for funding.

Internet accessibility is an ongoing problem for students and library patrons. About 89% of participants felt that insufficient internet access is a significant issue in the general community. Eighty-two percent of participants also stated that they would take advantage of being able to share internet access off-campus to the general community in order to provide a more technologically connected society.

Why E-rate is critical for school technology access

Roger Sands, CEO and Co-Founder, Wyebot — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:09:00 +0000

Every year, schools and libraries have access to billions of dollars of funding through the FCC’s E-rate program. Unfortunately, many don’t take advantage, oftentimes because of confusion over who is eligible and what services are available. In this post I’ll break down the importance of E-rate, how it works, and the types of technologies it makes available that are crucial to education.

The importance of E-rate

For students in the 21st century, it’s almost impossible to overemphasize the importance of the internet and digital learning technologies. There is a growing dependence on these resources across the U.S., and they are often seen as critical for connecting students and teachers and preparing students for lifelong learning and jobs.

With E-rate, schools and libraries serving K-12 students can ensure that students have access to the most reliable and most useful technologies on the market. No one should fall behind because of lack of funding.

E-rate provides 20 to 90 percent discounts for telecommunications, telecommunications services, internet access, internal connections, and managed internal broadband services. Depending on the service selected, E-rate also covers basic maintenance, monthly charges, installation and activation charges, and other necessary costs.

Discounts are based on a school’s poverty level, and location is also taken into consideration with rural schools and libraries sometimes receiving higher discounts. The cap for funding year 2021 was $4.276 billion.

Read more:
E-rate spending sheds light on schools’ edtech evolution
7 reasons E-rate funding is absolutely critical

E-rate spending reveals schools’ tech evolution

Brian Stephens, Director of Client Solutions, Funds For Learning — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Schooling has changed in many ways in the last two years, but while remote learning, mask policies and increased federal spending in education have gotten lots of attention, another trend has gone nearly unnoticed.

But thanks to the availability of detailed E-rate data, this sea change is now being recognized. E-rate is the federal government program that provides discounts of up to 90 percent for schools and libraries to bring high-speed internet into their building(s) and create internal networks for online access. For years, E-rate applicants have leveraged E-rate to bring fast internet service into their organizations, cobbling together funds and seeking out providers. But today, a new trend is emerging—more funds are being requested to improve internal networks, allowing the flood of devices now used in schools and libraries to effectively get online.

E-rate funding requested in Category One, which includes data transmission services and internet access, has declined for five straight years, largely a function of increasing marketplace competition and decreasing per-megabit prices. But funding requests for Category Two services have soared in the same time period. Category Two funds can be spent on wireless access points, network switches, data cabling and other resources essential for on-campus connections.

E-rate Applicants Add Devices, Concentrate on Bolstering Internal Networks

This significant change is a natural outgrowth of all the devices that are used in schools after districts went remote for at least part of the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, 45 percent of schools reported having a computer for each student, according to a National Center for Education Statistics report on the 2019-20 school year. At least one more recent study said this figure nearly doubled to 86 percent as schools scrambled to give students devices to allow remote learning.

The need for infrastructure to support all those devices is evident in the E-rate funding data. In 2018, there was a $1.5 billion gap between Category One and Category Two, with about $2.6 billion requested in Category One. With Category One funding requests decreasing slightly and Category Two funding requests increasing dramatically, the gap has been rapidly decreasing. In funding year 2022, the expenditures for the Category One and Category Two are nearly even.

This vital information from the 2022 filing window will help district leaders better plan their E-rate strategy in the future.

Let’s look a bit deeper at these trends and understand what they show. In funding year 2019 and funding year 2020, the average total cost for Category Two services was relatively flat at slightly more than $20,000 per school or library site. But in funding year 2021, expenditures jumped to $26,500 per site in funding year 2021 and then rose again to $32,000 per site in funding year 2022.

The Everlasting Importance of E-Rate

Kevin Hogan — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:01:00 +0000

On this episode of Getting There: Innovations in Education, sponsored by Adobe Sign:

The 2021 E-rate Trends Report emphasizes the popularity of this essential program plus resources for districts to leverage
District leaders discuss how automating forms processing can be done securely
Zoom Education Marketing Lead Johann Zimmern on what’s next for online synchronous learning

7 reasons E-rate funding is critical for schools and libraries

Laura Ascione — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Reliable high-speed internet access isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s absolutely essential for teaching and learning. Without reliable connectivity, students and teachers lose access to the digital tools and resources that make learning engaging and relevant.

In its annual E-rate Trends Survey, E-rate compliance services firm Funds For Learning takes a look at the federal E-rate funding landscape and analyzes how the funding stream supports learning in schools and libraries.

“This year’s Trends Report indicates that the E-rate program is solid and steady,” said John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning. “While connectivity needs continue to evolve, the Trends Report tells a very important story about E-rate as a vital resource for schools and libraries. The past two school years have showed us that school communities depend upon broadband access and network security.”

Here are responses from educators regarding just how critical high-speed internet access is to their students and communities. Many commenters noted the need for more support for rural and low-income schools, as well as the increasing need for cybersecurity measures.

1. Our school could not serve students beyond paper/localized resources without the help of E-rate funding. The growth in digital content and electronic activities for core instruction is creating relevance to how we educate and new purpose as to what it means to be educated.

3 reasons E-rate funding remains critical for school internet access

Laura Ascione — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:25:00 +0000

The federal E-rate program remains a vital and trusted funding source to bring “mission-critical” internet access to schools and libraries, according to an annual report tracking trends and developments related to the federal funding stream.

The 2021 E-rate Trends Report, from E-rate compliance services firm Funds For Learning, arrives as school systems work through COVID-related impacts, including the Homework Gap and on- and off-campus broadband needs.

Responses from a record-breaking 2,164 applicants indicate that E-rate remains essential, and network security is now an urgent concern.

Key 2021 report findings include:

1. E-rate remains a vital program for schools and libraries to achieve connectivity. With a record number of sites served in 2021 (130,418), 97 percent of respondents agree that more students or library patrons are connected because of the E-rate program. Ninety-five percent agree that E-rate funding is vital to internet connectivity.

E-rate report reveals dire need for off-campus internet

Laura Ascione — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 10:00:14 +0000

While E-rate remains a crucial program for schools and libraries to ensure connectivity, the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the need for increased flexibility and funds for off-campus learning. In the 10th annual E-rate Trends Report, based on with a record-breaking 2,138 responses submitted by E-rate applicants, Funds For Learning offers an inside look at the efficacy and value of the federal E-rate program. Related content: How school librarians are getting creative in a pandemic "The importance of having fast, reliable internet access for schools and libraries has never been clearer," writes John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning, in the report's intro. "As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities now have a much deeper appreciation for the significant role that broadband communication plays in educating students and connecting our citizens. K-12 schools and public libraries are at the front lines of providing access to online resources, and they rely on the E-rate program to provide most of the financial support for their Internet connections." Key 2020 report findings include: 1. Off-campus internet is an ascendant issue for schools, communities and parents. Ninety percent of respondents report that insufficient internet access is a significant issue in their communities, and 93 percent report that they would share their discounted internet access off-campus if allowed by the FCC. 2. Emergency relief funding was not largely utilized to close the digital divide during the pandemic; the E-rate program is viewed as a viable mechanism to fund off-campus connections--58.6 percent of respondents did not use or were unable to use the Emergency Stabilization Fund for expenses necessary to support off-campus internet access for remote learning. Moreover, 82.5 percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that their schools and libraries would use the E-rate program for off-campus connections. 3. The administration and efficiency of the E-rate program has improved. The majority of respondents are satisfied with the administration of the program by USAC and the EPC tool that enables applicants to file for E-rate funding. 4. The modernization of the E-rate program was successful, and there continues to be increased demand in C2 services. Seventy-five percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that they would be applying for discounts on Category Two services in FY2021. 5. E-rate remains a vital program for schools and libraries to achieve connectivity goals. Ninety percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that schools and libraries connect more students at faster speeds due to the E-rate program. 6. Nearly all survey participants say they believe cybersecurity should be eligible for E-rate funding, with 98 percent agreeing with the idea in 2020 compared to 96 percent in 2019 and 2018. 7. Most schools and libraries will increase their internet bandwidth by at least 50 percent over the next three years, with an average annual increase of 17 percent reported by respondents. 8. Open-ended comments highlighted the desire for internet hot-spot funding, particularly among rural and low-income school communities. "In light of the current and ever changing circumstances it is vitally important that E-rate funds/programs be allowed to be used for hot spots to help enable rural schools to connect students from home where it is impractical and unsafe to get to a Wi-Fi spot," said one survey respondent. "I would like to see Cybersecurity software and hardware tools protecting our network/users, and Internet Hot Spots for needy families to be eligible for E-rate. Thank you," write another.

6 ways the E-rate supports digital and mobile learning

Laura Ascione — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 10:00:32 +0000

Education leaders expect school internet needs to increase over the next several years, highlighting the need for increased bandwidth and resources to support the growing demands on school networks. The ninth annual E-Rate Trends Report from Funds For Learning shows that the federal E-rate program is still critical in establishing broadband connectivity for schools and libraries. The 2014 E-rate update will expire in 2020, and stakeholders are urged to advocate for the program in order to ensure it can continue to serve schools and libraries. Related content: 5 school and library applicants weigh in on E-rate “Every year, we read through hundreds of responses that showcase how E-rate is mission critical for schools and libraries,” says John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning. “It’s vital to identify what’s working and what improvements must be made, and to deliver that feedback directly to the FCC.” The survey also includes open-ended responses from applicants. "[E-rate] is a tremendous program that is necessary for the instructional benefit of all students and educators across the United States. Without it, these individuals would suffer immensely and potentially cause our nation a huge disadvantage when it comes to 21st century skills," according to comment number 218. "As a small rural school district, our options for internet, fiber, etc. are limited. E-rate helps us tremendously with our internet, building-to-building connectivity, and network equipment that are necessary in today’s education environment. Since state funded programs...no longer exist, districts must spend more district money [on] projects. It would be difficult for our district to fund everything needed without the benefit of E-rate," says comment number 41. School internet remains critical to students' success, both academically and in building the schools they'll need to succeed in college and the workforce. Here are 6 key findings about school internet needs: 1. Digital learning continues to explode. 88 percent of applicants expect bandwidth needs of schools and libraries to increase in the next three years. 2. Barriers to internet still exist. 82 percent of applicants agree that insufficient internet access to home of students or library patrons is significant issue in their community. 3. If permitted to share school internet access off-campus at no additional cost to the E-rate program, 83 percent of responding applicants say they would do so. 4. Wi-Fi remains mission-critical. 88 percent of applicants feel Wi-Fi is extremely important in fulfilling their mission. 79 percent of applicants in FY18 cited the same need, showing a consistent trend in Wi-Fi access for schools and libraries.

How the E-rate and grants can help fund your edtech plans

Robert Low — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 10:00:18 +0000

As schools and districts strive to meet their existing technology needs and prepare for the future, access to federal and state funding, along with other grants, is making a major difference in whether students engage in 21st century learning or are left behind. And with online assessments now being required in many states, reliable broadband access is also essential so that students’ knowledge and skills are accurately represented, and technology is not a barrier to achievement and its documentation. Related content: 4 things to ask about E-rate funding During a recent webinar, edtech experts provided an overview of the E-rate program, state matching funds, and ways to obtain grants for technological development. Tapping these funding sources can be a challenge, especially for smaller districts, but there are resources and other types of support available. Accessing the E-Rate and matching state funds Sheryl Abshire, Ph.D., an edtech specialist at Abshire Consulting, explained that the E-rate program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission specifically to help schools with connectivity and internet access, and the U.S. Department of Education does not provide funding for this purpose. Investment in these areas and a strategy for obtaining E-rate discounts should be part of every district’s five- or ten-year technology plan, so that schools can continue to have reliable service that accommodates changing needs. And while the E-rate program cannot be used for device purchases and professional development, it can free up other funds for those purposes. Josh Chisom, a program manager at EducationSuperHighway, identified 22 states that now provide matching funds which can be combined with the E-rate program, and he noted that two more states are proceeding with plans to provide these types of funding. Application processes vary, based on the state, as do disbursements. Cynthia Schultz, Esq., a managing member of the Broadband Law Group, said there is “a lot going on at the state level with digital equity and getting the right connectivity.” This is likely to be especially important in light of what is being called the “fourth industrial revolution,” which includes emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G networks. Responding to changing needs and funding opportunities Dr. Abshire pointed out that the challenges for today’s district leaders include protecting students’ data and other information, filtering content, and establishing acceptable use policies for students and teachers. There needs to be secure, robust, and reliable networks that provide access to digital content as technologies evolve, and in many districts another growing concern is equitable access, both in and out of school. To obtain funding for these and other edtech needs, Dr. Abshire recommended the development of a strategy or “recipe” that includes the integration of program elements, such as project design and alignment of components. There should also be a focus on high quality and continuous improvement, with professional development and ongoing evaluation of progress, all tied to high standards. Reviewers of grant proposals will be looking at how the grant proposal ties in with the district’s overall plan, and in particular how the technology funds will be used to impact student learning. Proposal reviewers will also focus on the outcomes, both in terms of how they were developed and how the funding will help to achieve those goals. Another important factor is whether the project could be replicated elsewhere. Dr. Abshire also stressed the importance of showing how the district will tap other resources, such as volunteers or alternative funding sources, and explaining why a project is uniquely important for your district, rather than using a general, templated approach. And she noted the importance of doing the “little things” right, such as using correct spelling and good grammar, following all the directions, and meeting the deadlines. By reaching out to a variety of sources, including state E-rate coordinators and even local vendors, who may have their own discount programs and can provide information about the latest available technologies, district edtech leaders can keep pace with the changes and funding needed to prepare students for success in the 21st century.

Groups urge IES to release months-late report on student internet access

Laura Ascione — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 16:30:13 +0000

A federal report on students’ home access to digital learning resources is months late, and ed-tech groups say the delay is impeding efforts to close the homework gap.

In a letter to the Institute of Education Sciences, a number of ed-tech and advocacy organizations point out that many students lack home access to the internet connectivity they need to complete homework and use online learning resources.

The groups also point out that the study, which the Every Student Succeeds Act mandated be sent to Congress by June 2017, “will help policy makers identify the best ways to ensure all students can connect with broadband services and be on a path for success after graduation.”

The study is required to examine student habits related to digital learning outside the classroom, along with the barriers students face in accessing those resources.

“We think there’s a big problem, and we need good data around it,” says CoSN CEO Keith Krueger. “This is critical.”

Device access isn’t always a problem, but the kind of device students have can determine their access to digital learning resources.

“A lot of low-income kids, while they have a device, it’s probably a smartphone and they’re probably on a data cap,” Krueger adds. “We need to understand the nuances. What kind of device do you have? What kind of internet? Is it robust? Are you trying to do your homework on a small screen?”

In November 2017, the Federal Communications Commission voted to start scaling back its Lifeline program, which discounts phone and internet service for low-income Americans. The proposed reform was met with concern, and FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn dissented, saying in powerful statements that the proposal will only serve to broaden the homework gap and could leave many Lifeline users without affordable access.

The deadline for filing comments was Feb. 21, and reply comments are due by March 23.

Some stakeholders believe the FCC’s vote is coming this spring, based on the deadlines for comments and reply comments.

That impending vote makes the IES report all the more necessary, according to the letter.

“The study, including the required examination of student habits related to digital learning outside the classroom and the barriers they face in accessing those resources, will help policy makers identify the best ways to ensure all students can connect with broadband services and be on a path for success after graduation,” the groups wrote. “In light of the Federal Communications Commission’s pending Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the future of the Lifeline program, we are especially eager to review the results of IES’s work.”

Coming off long conversations with the FCC about E-rate modernization, the ed-tech community began thinking about ways to better help students who lack the internet and resource access they need at home to continue learning outside of the classroom, says Reg Leichty, CoSN’s policy expert. The conversation turned to how ESSA can address the homework gap across the country.

“Our allies on Capitol Hill said that at a minimum, we should gather additional information about the scope of this challenge for students, and we should try to better understand, as policymakers, what the out-of-school digital learning environment looks like, including the barriers students face in accessing digital learning when they go home,” Leichty says.

Impending rulings about Lifeline make the report’s release all the more urgent, he adds.

“We know IES and the Department of Education are taking this seriously. It’s a complex issue and we want the work to be done right. But given the FCC’s NPRM and NOI about Lifeline, we think the bulk of this study could be helpful for that work. These two proceedings at the FCC might have a big impact on these kids, and we think it’s time to release this report,” he says.

This E-rate trick can help schools combat net neutrality repeal

Laura Ascione — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:00:00 +0000

With concerns about school internet access buzzing in the wake of the FCC's vote to repeal net neutrality, anxiety over school internet access might transfer to the federal E-rate program--but there's no need to worry, according to E-rate experts. When the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality, education stakeholders worried the move would be a step backwards for digital equity inside classrooms. Some worried that even in classrooms with digital equity, net neutrality's repeal would leave students in low-income neighborhoods at a disadvantage and widen the homework gap. While net neutrality's impact on the marketplace and internet access has yet to be determined, there are things schools can do to protect themselves if they're worried about throttling or blocking--concerns brought up during the net neutrality debate, said John Harrington, CEO of E-rate consulting firm Funds For Learning. Schools should build that concern directly into their E-rate requests for proposals. "The advantage a district has is that it can leverage and negotiate--if your district has a concern about throttling or blocking, put that in your requirements--you won't use a service provider that slows down, throttles, or blocks traffic," Harrington said. "That's an easy way to make sure that, at least for schools and libraries, it isn't an issue. That's not something the typical consumer can negotiate, but a school district absolutely can." But the E-rate program is likely to see changes in the near future, Harrington said, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has said he would like the program's administration to improve. In fact, new CEO Radha Sekar joined USAC in December. Former CEO Chris Henderson resigned in May after Pai sharply criticized the program's online E-rate Productivity Center. But Pai's criticism focuses on the E-rate program's administration and doesn't threaten the program's existence, Harrington said. "Chairman Pai and his advisers have consistently said they continue to support the E-rate program and have no plans to try and repeal or change it," he said. "E-rate has had a 20-year track record of bipartisan support, and we've not seen anything that would indicate this has changed whatsoever, not on Capitol Hill and not at the FCC."

Form 471 filing window dates announced

Laura Ascione — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 16:11:31 +0000

USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division has announced important Funding Year (FY) 2018 dates and deadlines.

The FY 2018 FCC Form 471 application filing window opens Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at 12:00 noon EST and closes on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM EDT. This filing window is more in keeping with those used in prior funding years.

Representatives at USAC’s Client Service Bureau are available to help applicants at 888-203-8100. Applicants also can open a customer service case in the E-rate Productivity Center to receive assistance.

The announcement has further details about the filing window and how to prepare. Click here for the full announcement.

Getting started: Your E‑rate cheat sheet

Laura Ascione — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:55:44 +0000

It’s that time of year again–the federal E-rate program is getting underway, and with program updates and refreshes in recent years, you might need a primer on this year’s program.

The E-rate program helps schools and libraries access high-speed internet and telecommunications at prices that won’t break the bank.

At the end of 2014, the Federal Communications Commission voted to increase funding to the federal E-rate program by $1.5 billion. The vote brought the annual program cap from $2.4 billion to $3.9 billion.

Supporters of the increase noted that the additional funding was critical to a program that can address so many troubling gaps in schools and libraries across the nation, including gaps in internet access, anytime anywhere learning, and connected devices.

Here are some of the program basics you know to get started in a new E-rate funding year.

First, according to the Schools and Libraries department in the Universal Services Administrative Company, which administers the E-rate, those interested in E-rate funding should determine their eligibility. This generally means meeting the program’s definition of a school or library. State departments of education and state libraries can offer guidance if needed.

Eligible services are also important. The E-rate program’s Eligible Services Overview gives applicants a cursory understanding of the products, equipment and services that are eligible for discounted funding. Discounts can range from 20 percent to 90 percent of the cost of eligible services, and applicants can refer to resources that help them determine discount percentages.

Once eligibility is squared away, E-rate applicants should review the application process, which involves competitive bidding for services. Applicants sign a contract with the most cost-effective bidder, and once that service agreement is established, USAC issues the applicant a funding commitment and the applicant begins receiving service discounts.

Funding falls under two categories of service: Category One services include Data Transmission Services and Internet Access, and Voice Services. Category Two services include Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Discounts for support depend on the service category, the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the appropriate school district.

Applicants can access recent E-rate webinar recordings, can subscribe to weekly newsletters with updates about the E-rate program, and can learn about E-rate training sessions and events that are held at various locations across the country.

Districts say E-rate is critical to their learning goals

Laura Ascione — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:55:14 +0000

A large majority of E-rate applicants (87 percent) said the federally funded program is vital to their internet connectivity goals, according to an annual survey that tracks program applicants' perspectives on the program. In the midst of leadership changes in the White House and the FCC, as well as education budget cuts, ed-tech stakeholders have raised questions regarding the promise of the E-rate program to deliver safe and proper broadband connections to students in the U.S. According to initial feedback from Funds For Learning's annual E-rate applicant survey, E-rate recipients continue to rely on E-rate funding to provide connectivity for schools and libraries across the nation. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents said they have faster internet connections to their sites because of E-rate, and 78 percent said they were able to connect more students and library patrons to the internet because of the E-rate program. “Certainly, the E-rate program is not without its challenges, but the fundamental nature of the program remains as strong as ever,” said John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning. “While the political climate has shifted, one thing has remained the same: E-rate is vital and will continue to play an indispensable role in connecting schools and communities.” This year, approximately 1,100 applicants completed the Funds For Learning survey, representing about 5 percent of all school and library applicants nationwide. Full survey results will be available in the fall. In CoSN's 2016 Infrastructure survey, respondents revealed that, for the fourth year in a row, school systems identify cost of ongoing recurring expenses as the biggest barrier to robust connectivity. In fact, this number increased from 46 percent in 2015 to 57 percent in 2016--another reason E-rate funding remains critical to schools' connectivity. Schools and districts routinely turn to E-rate funding for affordable and state-of-the-art technologies, including centrally-managed gigabit Wi-Fi platforms that leverage the cloud, and switches that can easily scale up as demand increases—which it inevitably will. One such example is Columbia Public Schools, a Missouri school district that covers 300 square miles between St. Louis and Kansas City and serves 18,000 students. As Christine Diggs, director of Technology Services for Columbia Public Schools, points out, “Fast and reliable Wi-Fi access is now simply an imperative for delivering a 21st century education.”

How is the E-rate impacting learning?

Jeff Patterson, Founder and CEO of Gaggle — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 20:56:33 +0000

In the beginning, E-rate focused principally on telephone service, which was the most basic and universal way individuals communicated 20 years ago. While the focus on communication has remained, technology has changed radically throughout the past two decades. During this period, E-rate adapted by broadening the range of eligible services to include mobile phones, pagers, voicemail, email, school websites and basic collaboration tools.

As the program evolved, the definition of “new technology” grew increasingly inexact and complicated. It became clear that E-rate was in need of a refresh. Advocates for change, including legislators, the Federal Communications Commission and organizations such as ISTE and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), hoped to address the question: How do we increase internet bandwidth available to our schools and provide ubiquitous wireless coverage?

Practical questions to ask

To answer this question, we needed to both increase E-rate funding and stretch every dollar. In an effort to make dollars go further, three main objectives were identified:

Focus solely on digital transmission services and internet access.

Eliminate services, such as paging, voicemail, email, text messaging and web hosting.
Simplify the application process by only accepting electronic submissions.

Simply put, E-rate is now all about bandwidth.

After enacting these changes for the 2015-16 school year, the next move was to petition Congress for additional funding. Mission accomplished: The FCC approved a $1.5 billion E-rate increase, bringing the annual funding cap to $3.9 billion.

The new focus on connectivity is great, but now we must ask ourselves another question: “How will this connectivity improve learning outcomes?” In other words, what are we going to do with this bandwidth? The situation might be likened to a public utilities initiative to build huge infrastructure to get water into homes while neglecting the pertinent question of where we will get the water?

Our water is digital content, learning management systems, homework submission tools, live-stream video, all products and solutions that can impact learning. From a broader perspective, additional questions should be asked:

What products and services support learning outcomes?
What cloud-based services allow teachers and students to be more effective?
How are we training teachers to deliver those outcomes?

When the lone goal of E-rate centers on bandwidth, practical questions like these don’t get answered. Bandwidth alone will not help create anytime, anywhere learners using technology geared to a student’s unique interests and abilities.

We should be excited about the modernization of E-rate. But when E-rate is all about bandwidth, practical questions about the products and services that will use that very same bandwidth don’t get answered.

Bandwidth on its own is not enough. We have to find meaningful ways to use that bandwidth to impact learning and to create anytime, anywhere learners.

Jeff Patterson is the founder and CEO of Gaggle.

Does your district’s broadband measure up?

Laura Ascione — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:58:02 +0000

A free tool from nonprofit EducationSuperHighway is intended to help district technology leaders compare broadband and connectivity information with other districts nearby and across the nation. Compare & Connect K-12, which launched in beta in early 2016 and is now fully launched and available, displays public E-rate application data and lets users explore bandwidth speeds and compare broadband prices with school districts in a specific region or in any state across the country. The goal is simple: transparency regarding school district broadband and bandwidth pricing data in an effort to help school districts get more bandwidth for their broadband budgets. Schools need high-speed broadband and ubiquitous wi-fi to ensure all students have equal access to digital learning opportunities, advocates and stakeholder groups say. Providing robust bandwidth today and ensuring scalability for future classroom needs is critical to enabling teachers and students to take full advantage of digital learning opportunities. While significant progress has been made, 21 million students across the country still lack the broadband they need to take advantage of digital learning. School districts using the beta version of the Compare & Connect K-12 online tool have achieved significantly more bandwidth, often at little to no additional cost. Great Falls Public Schools in Montana leveraged Compare & Connect K-12 to compare the price the district was paying for its bandwidth with that of neighboring school districts. Armed with this knowledge, Great Falls was able to stay with its existing provider, negotiating within its long-term contract for 330 percent more bandwidth with only an 8 percent increase in monthly cost. “Compare & Connect K-12 gave us unprecedented insight into other school districts’ cost to bandwidth ratios, which helped us discover that we could get much more bandwidth at nearly the same cost,” said Tom Hering, Director of IT at Great Falls Public Schools. “We leveraged this data to upgrade our bandwidth to 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps), enabling more digital learning opportunities in the classroom to better prepare our students for today’s increasingly technology-centric world.” Compare & Connect K-12 also acts as a resource for service providers, who are critical to finishing the job of upgrading America’s K-12 schools. Service providers can use Compare & Connect K-12 to identify school districts inside and outside of their service areas that need upgrades. Leveraging this information, service providers can identify opportunities to help schools upgrade within their existing broadband budgets and work to close the connectivity gap. Compare & Connect K-12 also recognizes service providers that are helping their school district customers meet the minimum connectivity goals in 100 percent of their districts and enables other service providers to pledge to do the same.