E-Rate &

Newton ISD District

Technology Plan

A Presentation by Shellen Richardson.

Agenda:

• Summarize the details of E-Rate

• Explain how it is used in school districts

• Newton ISD technology plan

The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund

E-RATE
 E-Rate
• Managed by Universal Service Fund under the FCC

• Allows discounts to schools for telecommunications

and internet access

• Discounts range from 20%-90% depending on poverty

level and rural location.
 E-Rate
• Authorized as part of the Telecommunications Act of
1996

• Covers:
– Telecommunication services
– Internet access
– Internal connections
– Installation
– Maintenance

– ("E-rate: a vision," 2003)

E-Rate

“Technology has lit a fire under our students.

They are now more engaged than they ever
were.” ("E-rate: a vision," 2003)
NEWTON ISD
TECHNOLOGY
PLAN
 Newton ISD

• Is a E-Rate eligible school district in rural southeast

Texas
– Eligible because of high percentage of free lunch and rural
location
– Lists technology plan on its district website
 Newton ISD Technology Plan

- Technology plan asserts their goals of:

- Communication with stakeholders
- Availability and uses of information technology and
telecommunication infrastructure
- Community involvement
- Integration of community-wide programs
Newton ISD Technology Plan

- Increased student performance

- Sustainability
- Improved availability and quality of service
- Collaboration using telecommunications technologies
NISD Technology Task Force

Parents

Administrators Students

Community
Members Teachers
Conclusion
• Newton ISD is an E-rate eligible school district
in rural, southeast Texas. E-rate gives
discounts on technology and technology
services to schools that meet this type of
eligibility.
Resources
• (2003). E-rate: a vision of opportunity and
innovation. Proceedings of the Education and
library networks coalition,
http://www.edlinc.org/resources.html
• (2004). http://www.newtonisd.net