E-Rate Program
Background & Eligibility
E-rate Form Data
Approval & CIPA
Contracts, SPIN Number & NCES Codes
Contact Information
Where can I get full information on the E-rate discount program?
USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division Web site
is the right place to start. And, take a look at the
training materials posted on USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division Web
site.
Are There Any Training and Materials Designed for Washington State School Districts?
Yes. OSPI staff led an
E-rate training, November 2010 at ESD 113.
- Click ERate Session 11-1-10 to open the recording of the video conference.
Training Materials
How much discount is my district eligible to receive?
Eligibility is based on the free and reduced lunch data your report. E-rate
reviewers look for data sourced directly from the district. And that’s one
of the reasons we recommend that you use the Child Nutrition data. Find your
district- and school-level data here on the
Free & Reduced Price
Meals Eligibility page on the
Child Nutrition site. More in the following FAQ,
E-rate Form Data.
What data source should I use for
National School Lunch & Breakfast Program enrollment in my
district’s schools?
We highly recommend that you use data published by staff in the
Child Nutrition department at OSPI. They gather, track and
verify data specific to student enrollment in free and reduced
price meals programs — directly from every school district in
Washington state.
E-rate reviewers are primarily concerned that the data you
report sources directly from the district. And that’s one of the
reasons we recommend that you use the Child Nutrition data. Find
your district- and school-level data here on the
Free &
Reduced Price Meals Eligibility page on the
Child Nutrition site.
In my district, there are schools that do not appear on the
Child Nutrition spreadsheets (free and reduced price meals
eligibility). How do I validate student enrollment in these
programs on the E-rate forms?
If the schools don’t show up in the
Child
Nutrition data, Susan Tenkhoff, Washington state’s E-rate
coordinator, can verify your enrollment counts by working
directly with district and school staff. So go ahead and include
these programs on your E-rate forms, and use the enrollment
counts you gather at the school or district level.
Susan will validate and provide E-rate reviewers third party
verification of your data. Keep in mind that E-rate reviewers
are primarily concerned that the data you report sources
directly from the district. And that’s one of the reasons we
recommend that you use the Child Nutrition data. You can contact
Susan, (360) 725-5103, for
more information.
Whose name should I put in Block 1 (Item 1) of Form 479 where it asks for the “Name of Administrative Authority”?
Just the name of your school district, for example: Olympia School District.
What "Funding Year" should I list in Block 1 (Item 2) of Form 479?
This is funding year 2009 for E-rate – July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010.
How do I find out if my school has an approved technology plan?
Check the technology plans approved for E-rate.
What are the compliance criteria for CIPA?
Here’s a policy primer that outlines what school administrators must do to comply with CIPA.
Internet Safety Policies and CIPA (PDF) and a
checklist (PDF) that walks you through the compliance factors.
How do I find out if my school has filed a current Form 479 (CIPA Certification) and Letter of Authorization?
Where is the most recent master contract for the K-20 network?
Find the K-20 Master Contract on our
K-20 network home page. OSPI has filed Form 470’s for the equipment and services listed on this master contract — data equipment, cellular service, secondary transport (TDM) and advanced ethernet services. Use the information on this contract for your E-rate bids.
Where can I find existing contracts from DIS to review the terms and conditions?
Check the Department of Information Services contracts site for Master Contracts.
Where can I find the SPIN Number (Service Provider Information Number) for each provider?
Use the SLD search engine.
Where can I find the NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics) code for my school?
Use the NCES search engine.
Who can I contact for state-level E-rate information?
Contact Susan Tenkhoff, the state E-rate coordinator, (360) 725-5103.
What is the email address and helpline number for the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD)?
Toll-free – 888-203-8100. Or email your E-rate Question
to USAC.
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