Three-Year Local School District/Charter School Technology Plan Template
(2010-2013)

HELP – Inventory
REGARDING E-RATE

E –Rate requirements for technology plans:  http://www.universalservice.org/sl/applicants/step02/technology-planning/questions-consider-technology-planning.aspx

A technology plan is not required if you are applying for discounts on basic local and long distance (wireline and wireless) telephone service.

There are five elements that must be included in the school district technology plan for e-rate discounts.  They are:

• goals and realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology,
• a professional development strategy,
• an assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed,
• budget resources,
• on-going evaluation process.

Applicants may wish to preserve two copies of their technology plans in their files:

• The written plan upon which the Form 470 request is based. This is not necessarily the same as the plan submitted to the USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver (TPA), as minor changes can occur before the plan is approved. The copy of the written plan should include the date it was written (the “creation date”).
• The final version of the plan approved by the TPA. Applicants should also keep on file evidence of the date that the final version of the plan was approved.

Applicants must keep a copy of the technology plan approval letter as part of routine document retention. The approval letter should contain the date the plan was approved and its effective dates.

Non-public schools and other entities that do not secure approval of their technology plan from their states may locate a USAC-certified technology plan approver here.

INVENTORY RESOURCES RELATED TO THE E-RATE PROGRAM

The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) has a web site that will provide all information needed in regards to the E-Rate program. Please review the eligible services table for the areas that they support Eligible Services List

The SLD has stressed that it will pay more attention to technology plans and to the link between these plans and the E-Rate services requested. Here are a few important points concerning SLD’s expectations:

• The Form 470 requests must be based on a written technology plan. The plan need not be approved before a Form 470 is filed, but it must exist. The Form 470 has a certification requirement completed by the applicant stating that a technology plan covers all items noted on that form.
• Basic telephone service does not have to be detailed. However, the plan must cover all services being requested, including advanced telephone services such as non-basic telecom services (e.g. Centrex, voicemail, etc.) This is the first time the SLD has detailed this degree of specificity required in technology plans.
• Budgets incorporated in the plan must show both revenue sources and anticipated expenses sufficient to cover both the E-Rate services requested and other resources needed to support these services.
• The SLD is stressing the need to monitor and document the applicant’s progress in meeting its plan objectives. This evaluation should be outlined in the evaluation plan component of the district’s technology plan.

INVENTORY CONSIDERATIONS:

It is recommended that an updated inventory list is available at the school district level upon request.  The information on the inventory list may contain a description of the item, the tag or reference number, the serial number and the location of the item.

STATE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS:

“Classrooms with 21st Century learning environments are well‐equipped with computer hardware, software, electronic whiteboards and rich digital and online curricular resources. When you enter a 21st Century learning environment, you quickly see that interactive learning, higher level thinking skills, and student engagement are pervasive, whether students are learning math, science, reading, or history. 21st Century learning environments provide opportunities for collaboration and access to relevant content that would not usually be available to the highest need students being served by these programs. Collaborative planning, investment in core components for technology, intensive professional development – training teachers not only how to use technology but also how to integrate technology into the curriculum, rich digital content and IT support are some of the key elements necessary to transform schools…”