Special Education Services

Educational Technology

The E-Rate

—or, more precisely, the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism – provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Four service categories are funded: Telecommunications Services, Internet Access, Internal Connections Other than Basic Maintenance, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Discounts range from 20% to 90% of the costs of eligible services, depending on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served. Eligible schools, school districts and libraries may apply individually or as part of a consortium.

See: http://www.usac.org/_res/documents/sl/pdf/E-Rate-Overview.pdf.

Please visit the Eligible Services List to see descriptions of the eligible products and services. E-Rate does not cover desktop computers, learning software, professional development, or electrical infrastructure improvements to school buildings.

E-Rate-Links and Additional Information

About the E-Rate Program
Beginners Guides and USAC Web Tour
Application process
Eligible Services List
Illinois Free and Reduced School Lunch Program Data (contact the school district for the most recent data)
Calculating your discount
Discount matrix

Rural counties in Illinois
Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
E-Rate applicants must follow the Children's Internet Protection Act if the application covers Internet access and/or internal connections. Discounts for telecommunications services (provided by a telecommunications carrier) do not require CIPA compliance.
CIPA and E-Rate

CIPA and ISBE

CIPA/E-Rate and ICN

Technology Integration Planning for E-Rate

Approved Technology Integration Plans are required of any district or other educational entity applying for E-Rate discounts for eligible services other than basic telephone services (defined as basic local, cellular, PCS, and/or long distance telephone service and/or voice mail). The Technology Integration Plan approval date must precede the start of services (usually July 1) of the applicable funding year or the filing of a Form 486.

A completed Basic (Draft) Technology Integration Plan (TIP), covering at least one full fiscal funding year (July 1-June 30), is required prior to submitting a Form 470 for E-Rate reimbursement or discounts for the fiscal year applicable to the form filed. As USAC does not presently require approval of Basic (Draft) Technology Plans, ISBE does not request a copy of the Basic (Draft) plan for approval. However, as a certified Technology Plan Approver for USAC, ISBE may seek to verify the completion date and/or request a copy of the Basic (Draft) plan at any time.

E-Rate Applicants are responsible for completing the Basic TIP, attaching the appropriate assurances page (see the Basic TIP Guide) and ensuring that a copy is signed and dated by the District/LEA lead official and retained in accordance with USAC rules posted online at http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step02/.

Follow the posted deadlines in relation to USAC forms, deadlines, and compliance guidelines available online at http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/deadlines/default.aspx.

The Basic (Draft) Technology Integration Plan must written to list and support the services being sought via the Form 470 and include the five required USAC elements. The Basic (Draft) plan does not require approval prior to filing a USAC Form 470. Approval of the completed three-year plan is required before services begin (usually July 1 of the following fiscal year) or before filing the USAC Form 486.

The Basic Technology Integration Plan (TIP) Guide offers important tips and reminders. (Please refer to the guide before you begin.) For additional information please visit our Tech Plan page.

LEA’s may opt to utilize the Technology Integration Template available online at http://iirc.niu.edu to create a PDF of the Basic (Draft) Plan. The paper (.doc) templates are provided for educational entities that do not have access to the online template at http://iirc.niu.edu or for districts desiring the use of a tool for planning purposes and/or creating the Basic (draft) Technology Integration Plan only. Illinois Public Schools seeking plan approval are required to submit the final (three-year) plans electronically to ISBE for review by the date to be announced on the agency’s Technology Integration Plan web page and future editions of the Superintendent’s Bulletin.

Basic/Draft TIP Writing Guide for Illinois School Districts Applying for E-Rate pdf format

Basic (Draft) TIP Plan Template

Basic (Draft) TIP Action Plan Template

Basic (Draft) TIP Technology Inventory Survey

(from the Schools and Libraries Division):

Length: The Basic Technology Integration Plan written to support a Form 470 must cover an entire fiscal year and contain the five (5) required USAC components described online at www.usac.org/sl (July 1 through June 30). The complete Technology Integration Plan submitted for approval to the Illinois State Board of Education must cover three fiscal years. Plans submitted for approval in 2011 will start July 1, 2011 and end June 30, 2014.
Approval Process: Facilitation of peer review for finalized three-year Technology Integration Plans submitted electronically to ISBE is conducted by the Learning Technology Centers under the direction and supervision of ISBE. Final plan action/approval status is awarded by ISBE based upon the recommendation of plan reviewers and certified by USAC certified Technology Integration Plan Approvers on staff within the agency. (See the complete list of certified Technology Integration Plan Approvers online at http://www.usac.org/sl/about/overview-process.aspx.

Timetable:

The online template for Technology Integration Plans expiring June 30 will open on or about September 1 annually. Please watch this website and the Superintendent’s Bulletin for news and updates.

Spring to Early Fall (annually) for applicants holding a plan, which will not expire on June 30 of the following fiscal year: USAC requires an Annual Review of Technology Integration Plans written to support E-Rate reimbursements or discounts.

LEAs having an approved TIP (one that is not expiring June 30 of the given calendar year) complete and document an annual review of the plan in compliance with established policies and procedures as specified online at www.usac.org. LEAs file for a mid-course correction only if the TIP must be revised because of a major change prior to filing a Form 470 “to order services beyond the scope of their existing plan” for the following fiscal year.
Additionally, LEAs holding a previously approved TIP must memorialize/document monitoring compliance in respect to the schedule written into the approved plan of all plan sections. USAC recommends that applicants capture the annual review date electronically.

A discovery of a need to make minor changes during an annual review to an approved TIP does not necessitate access to the e-plan TIP template. A locally developed Technology Integration Plan addendum will suffice to document or explain minor changes to contact information, assessment tools or data information within an approved plan.

A discovery of a need to make major changes during an annual review, will require access to the TIP template online at http://iirc.niu.edu. LEAs discovering a need to make a major change to update an approved plan “to order services beyond the scope of their existing plan” should contact their LTC director for assistance with writing the necessary changes. This is also known as a “mid-course correction.” A district Superintendent of the LEA must contact Faith Bishop at ISBE at 217-557-7323 or fbishop@isbe.net to request to have the applicable TIP template unlocked in order to make changes. Once changes are complete, the plan must be electronically resubmitted for approval. LEAs do not need to wait for approval to file their Form 470. However the changes must be written prior to filing and approved before the start of services or filing the 486. For more information please refer to USAC's website at http://www.usac.org/sllapplicants/step02/technology-planning/.

Spring to Early Fall (annually) for applicants holding a plan, which will expire on June 30 of the following fiscal year: the applicant should begin the process of collecting data and establishing a stakeholder’s initiative for crafting/writing a new or revised Technology Integration Plan. (See the reference to the Basic (Draft) Technology Integration Plan above.)
Funding Year Start Date July 1 (annually) for eligible services previously selected and bid for according to established policies and procedures as specified online at www.usac.org.
File Initial Annual Form 470: Description of Services Requested and Certification Form (Form 470). This form must be posted at least 28 days before filing Form 471, the Services Ordered and Certification Form. This form is generally available late spring until early fall each calendar year. Remember! A Basic/Draft Plan must be written, or annual reviews of existing plans must be completed and documented prior to completing this form. Refer to official USAC guidance for specific dates, as well as compliance rules and measures.
File Description of Services Requested and Certification Form 471 within the prescribed window. This form generally becomes available in November and then available until February before the start of the Funding Year. Watch USAC’s website for specific window open and close dates.
File the Receipt of Service Confirmation Form (Form 486). USAC specifies a 120 requirement on their website at www.usac.org.
File the Billing Entity Applicant Reimbursement Form (Form 472) and
Service Provider Invoice Form (Form 474). This must also be “received or postmarked no later than 120 days after the date of the Form 486 Notification Letter or 120 days after the last date to receive service, whichever is later. “

Resources

Illinois Century Network E-Rate Page
USAC Eligible Services List
Entity Numbers for Illinois Schools
CyberdriveIllinois E-Rate resources*
*With gratitude for sharing information used on this site