Most K-12 school districts have more items on their To-Do lists than funding to complete them, and the gap between the two grows daily, especially with the added complexities of a pandemic. Yet, an often-overlooked funding source is the federal government’s E-rate program, which provides schools with discounts for technology purchases. Securing the money can be a challenging process, so K-12 schools need an experienced partner, one familiar with the nuances of the program.

US K-12 systems now face very challenging times. Schools need to create an immersive, collaborative, technology-based learning environment while keeping students and staff safe all within constrained budgets. Because of distance learning and stay-at-home mandates, many schools’ network infrastructure is straining to support new services and learning models that were rapidly deployed for compliance.

What is an E-rate program?

Educational institutions require flexible, scalable network solutions. The federal government offers help in building such systems. Its E-rate program provides discounts (as much as 90%) to assist schools and libraries in obtaining Internet access and telecommunications services. E-rate funds the following services: Data Transmission Services, Internet Access, Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Tapping into such funding enables schools to upgrade their technology infrastructure and create life-changing, increasingly digital student experiences.

Are We Eligible for E-rate Funding?

Who is eligible for such funding? Schools must meet the statutory definition of elementary and secondary schools found in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801(18) and (38). Three types of educational institutions qualify:

  • An elementary school is a non-profit institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under state law.
  • A secondary school is a non-profit institutional day or residential school, including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary education, as determined under state law but does not include education beyond grade 12.
  • A library whose budget is separate from any school, including but not limited to, elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

How to apply for E-rate funding?

To apply for such funding a school district must complete several steps.

  • Applicants describe the specific services and technologies they seek.
  • The school solicits bids.
  • They wait 28 days before reviewing bids. When choosing a provider or a vendor, applicants must identify the most cost-effective bid. Though the lowest price is a key factor, the government allows K-12 schools to consider other factors, such as whether the product integrates well with existing infrastructure and if the vendor provides local support.
  • The educational institution selects its service provider. They sign a contract that details the cost and specific products and services that will be deployed.
  • USAC reviews E-rate applications through a process called the Program Integrity Assurance Review, whose goal is to ensure that the program’s scope and goals are identified.
  • The USAC issues a funding commitment decision letter. If a project is approved, schools must submit Form 486 that sets a start date for the services and verifies that the school complies with the Child Protection Act (CIPA).    

Why Choose CherryRoad for E-rate services?

The E-rate program offers schools a tremendous opportunity to upgrade their infrastructure and improve their learning environment. Like many government programs, it relies on a complex compliance process to ensure that funds are properly dispersed. So, schools need to find the right partner.

The right partner’s staff should have attended USAC Service Provider and USAC Applicant training. Only then can you be sure that you are working with the latest information.

The partner should review your Form 471 application before the filing window closes and make sure it has the appropriate Category of Service and the correct product descriptions and pricing information.

The process is complex but moves quickly, so your partner needs to manage it proactively. They should have staff with the experience to ensure that you are on track during every step in the process.

When looking for a potential partner, applicants must select a company that has experience with the E-rate program, which has been in use since 1997. Many CherryRoad staff members hold over 15 years’ experience with E-rate. They are well versed with the USAC program and guide schools through the filing and approval process. They have implemented solutions for schools of varying sizes, with different needs, and deployments with divergent levels of complexity.

CherryRoad’s E-rate team has been providing technical services and guidance as one of the largest authorized Internet service providers in Massachusetts for more than 20 years. This E-rate season, we have partnered with several other school districts in the country to provide them cutting-edge network services.

Our Account Managers are trained to assist you with E-rate once you have completed the competitive bidding process. To know more about our network infrastructure services under E-rate program, please mail us at info@cherryroad.com.