Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism

• What is the E-Rate Program?

• The Technology Plan

• Rapides Parish Technology Plan

– Evaluation Strategies and

Timeline

The E-Rate Program - 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 Service

•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.

The E-Rate Program supports connectivity - the conduit or pipeline for communications using telecommunications services and/or the Internet.

The school or library is responsible for providing additional resources.

The first step is to prepare a district or school technology plan, which includes:

•How technology will be used to achieve goals and improvements.

•How funds will be invested for E-Rate services and other resources.

A technology plan must contain the following components:

•Clear goals and a realistic strategy for usage of technology.

•A professional development strategy.

•An assessment of the equipment and services needed.

•An evaluation process.

Technology plans must be approved by a SLD-certified technology plan approver before service begins.

• Action Step 1: Strengthen Leadership

• Action Step 2: Improve Teacher Training

• Action Step 3: Support E-Learning and Virtual Schools

• Action Step 4: Encourage Improved Access and Technology

Usage

OVERARCHING GOAL: All Louisiana educators and learners will benefit from technology-rick environments that support student achievement and produce lifelong learners able to succeed in an information society.

Introduction and OverviewThe Rapides Parish School District's vision is to: •Aid its students in becoming skilled, knowledgeable, independent, and self-directed learners who are comfortable with and proficient in using technology in all its forms as an information and learning resource. •Integrate information technologies into the curriculum.•Provide access to technology and network resources, that will create a new learning environment.

Evaluation Strategies and Timelines

The following charts contain strategies and timelines for evaluating the four action steps.

Action Step 1: Strengthen Leadership

Evaluation Strategy Frequency TimelineDistrict Technology Survey Annual MayState Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment Annual MaySchool Technology Surveys Annual April thru June System Technology Plan associated with grant and/or E-Rate applications Annual Fall, Spring, Summer

Enrollment of district leaders/potential leaders in the state leadership network programs (LELN) Annual Spring

School budgets that include technology line items Annual SpringNumber of parents utilizing web-based portal for communicating student information Annual Spring

Classroom walk-through recorded and analyzed using technology tools Annual Year-long

District- and school-level monitoring of School Improvement Plans as it relates to educational technology Annual Spring

Action Step 2: Improve Teacher Training

Evaluation Strategy Frequency TimelineSchool and district state technology surveys Annual Spring

State approved technology proficiency instrument Annual Spring

Reports to Rapides Parish School BoardOngoing At Selected, Regularly

Scheduled Meeting

Teacher Professional Development Portfolios Ongoing Ongoing

Classroom Observations/Walkthroughs Designated by System As Conducted

Teacher presentations at conferences anddistrict/local trainings Ongoing Ongoing

Local reports on instructional progress Ongoing As Conducted

District and school level monitoring of professional development plans as it relates to educational technology leadership

Annual Spring

Records of workshop participation such as sign-in sheets Ongoing Ongoing

Action Step 3: Support E-Learning and Virtual

SchoolsEvaluation Strategy Frequency Timeline

LVS enrollment numbers Annual Fall and Spring

Students completing TOPS courses through LVS Annual Fall and Spring

Students enrolling in summer LVS courses Annual Summer

Number of schools facilitating an e-learning environment for faculty Annual Spring

Number of local classroom-level e-learning components Annual Spring

Action Step 4: Encourage Improved Access and Technology Usage

Evaluation Strategy Frequency Timeline

Report tracking bandwidth utilization of schools Ongoing Ongoing

School and District technology survey report data Annual Spring

System/School technology plan updates Annual Spring

Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment Annual Spring

Appropriate System reports (consolidatedmonitoring reports) As Available As Available

Classroom observations/walkthroughs andevaluations by administrators

As Designated By System As Conducted

• What is the E-Rate Program?Provides discounts on internet access to schools and

districts.

• The Technology PlanMust be provided by each school/district to qualify for E-

Rate.

• Rapides Parish Technology Plan• Action Step 1: Strengthen Leadership• Action Step 2: Improve Teacher Training• Action Step 3: Support E-Learning and Virtual Schools• Action Step 4: Encourage Improved Access and Technology Usage

Universal Service Administrative Company. (n.d.) E-Rate Discounts for Schools and Libraries. Retrieved from http://usac.org/

Rapides Parish School District. (2007) Rapides Parish School Board Technology Plan 2007-2014.Retrieved from http://www.rapides.k12.la.us/technology/plan/intro.htm