eSchool News

OCTOBER 24, 2022

The federal E-rate program continues to provide expanded access to technology, including edtech tools, digital learning resources, and high-speed internet access, to schools, according to an annual report that takes stock of the program’s progress. The findings come from E-rate compliance services firm Funds For Learning ‘s 12th annual E-rate Trends Report. E-rate remains a dependable and necessary program for education.

E-rate 85

E-rate Libraries Report Accessibility 85

eSchool News

DECEMBER 17, 2021

Reliable high-speed internet access isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s absolutely essential for teaching and learning. Without reliable connectivity, students and teachers lose access to the digital tools and resources that make learning engaging and relevant.

E-rate 118

E-rate Libraries Broadband Trends 118

eSchool News

AUGUST 9, 2017

A large majority of E-rate applicants (87 percent) said the federally funded program is vital to their internet connectivity goals, according to an annual survey that tracks program applicants’ perspectives on the program. According to initial feedback from Funds For Learning’s annual E-rate applicant survey, E-rate recipients continue to rely on E-rate funding to provide connectivity for schools and libraries across the nation.

E-rate 73

E-rate Accessibility Broadband Survey 73

eSchool News

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

Funds For Learning survey indicates applicants would restore support for voice service if able. Eighty-six percent of E-rate applicants participating in a recent survey said they are concerned about the Federal Communication Commission’s phase-out of support for voice service, according to recent data. The survey is based on 652 participants, representing roughly 3 percent of applicants from a representative cross-section of E-rate applicants.

E-rate 82

E-rate Survey BYOD Data 82

eSchool News

MAY 10, 2017

Textbooks and blackboards have become a thing of the past in K-12 schools as educators collaborate with IT teams to shape a full digital core curriculum as part of their educational strategy for 2017 and beyond. In a 2016 survey conducted by the Consortium for School Networking (COSN), 90 percent of IT administrators at K-12 schools expect that curricula will be at least 50 percent digital over the next three years.

E-rate 65

E-rate Blackboard Broadband Survey 65

Edsurge

AUGUST 7, 2018

It’s one of the cruelest ironies in education: today’s schools must build and maintain robust high-speed, fiber-optic internet connections. For more than 20 years, the Federal Communications Commission has directed the multi-billion dollar E-rate program, which provides taxpayer-supported construction and service discounts that districts and libraries can use toward internet costs. A quarter of respondents rated the system neither easy nor difficult in the 2017 survey.

E-rate 89

E-rate Broadband Survey Analysis 89

techlearning

APRIL 25, 2018

To inform the Federal Communications Commission in evaluating and refreshing the vitality of the $4 billion program, Funds For Learning announces its eighth annual E-rate Applicant Survey. April 25, 2018) – The Modernization Order that expanded federal E-rate funding to include broadband and internet services will expire in 2020. This survey is specifically designed to gather your responses and inform important decision makers in Washington D.C.,”

E-rate 40

E-rate Broadband Survey Analysis 40

Marketplace K-12

FEBRUARY 19, 2016

After winning the battle to expand the federal E-rate program , education leaders are beginning to look beyond the struggle of connecting all schools to high quality Internet, and toward the next challenge of connecting all students while outside of school. The Consortium for School Networking, or CoSN, issued a plan of action this week that aims to prod district leaders to at least gather data on personal student broadband access. By guest blogger Leo Doran.

Broadband 70

Broadband Accessibility E-rate Report 70

Edsurge

MARCH 20, 2020

According to the most recent federal data, about 14 percent of households with school-age children do not have internet access. And among those who do have access, not all have a broadband connection. Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology. “We

Accessibility 158

Accessibility Broadband E-rate Smartphone 158

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 30, 2020

And as video dominates online instruction, more educators need easy-to-use resources for video creation. Connected Nation bases the analysis in its “Connect K-12 2020 Executive Summary” on FCC E-Rate application data for the 2020 federal fiscal year.

Broadband 146

Broadband Report Video Analysis 146

Edsurge

MARCH 8, 2021

Library closures hit patrons hard—especially those who relied on them as their main internet source and used them to access online educational resources. adults lost their main source of internet access as libraries started to shut down in March 2020.

Libraries 126

Libraries Report Broadband E-rate 126

Marketplace K-12

JUNE 14, 2016

If technology is seamless and easy for educators to manage, it can clear the path for a digital provider. A new survey conducted by the Education Week Research Center offers ed-tech providers insight on how educators think about technology and its uses in classrooms. That’s a finding that contrasts with some of the stereotypes of educators–that they’re instinctively resistant to trying out new digital tools. De Jesus for Education Week.

Survey 46

Survey E-rate Company Exercises 46

Edsurge

JUNE 11, 2021

They just weren’t ready for distance learning, and a big part of that was that too many students lacked adequate WiFi access to get to virtual class. First, there are states that lack any laws about what connectivity should be provided for education. Jennifer E.

Broadband 115

Broadband Digital Divide E-rate Survey 115

techlearning

JUNE 26, 2018

In order to provide direct feedback to the FCC and understand how E-rate funding can best serve applicants, Funds For Learning releases its annual E-Rate Trends Report. Applicant survey results reveal that schools and libraries remain reliant on E-rate funding to provide and sustain broadband connectivity. Key provisions of the 2014 E-rate Modernization Order that expanded federal support for broadband internet connections will expire in 2020.

E-rate 40

E-rate Broadband Libraries Survey 40

eSchool News

JANUARY 22, 2019

School wi-fi and broadband connectivity are showing improvement, due largely to an increased investment from the federal E-rate program’s modernization, according to a new report from CoSN. They also underscore why school systems need strong networks and robust, affordable broadband access to fully leverage 21st century educational opportunities. These strides demonstrate the impact of the E-Rate modernization, as well as state investments in rural broadband.

Broadband 59

Broadband E-rate Survey Trends 59

EdTech Magazine

AUGUST 15, 2019

Millions of students lack the ability to access the internet from home — a problem compounded by increasing expectations from educators that students do so to complete homework and research. . Kajeet ’s ConnectEdNow campaign , announced in June, aims to make broadband access more affordable by providing students with portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices, a $200 mobile device subsidy and discounted data plans from Verizon , T-Mobile and other LTE providers.

EdTech 366

EdTech Broadband E-rate Accessibility 366

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

CoSN’s Annual Infrastructure Survey outlines state of school connectivity in U.S. School leaders said affordability remains the top barrier to robust internet connectivity in their schools, according to the Consortium for School Networking’s (CoSN) 3rd Annual Infrastructure Survey released November 3. Improving network speed and capacity and increasing competition for broadband services remain significant challenges to districts as well, the survey reveals.

E-rate 89

E-rate Survey System Report 89

Education Superhighway

APRIL 18, 2018

It is our core belief that with access to accurate, transparent data on broadband speeds and pricing, school district leaders are empowered to find new service options, make informed broadband choices, and get more bandwidth for their budgets. As a result, more schools can upgrade their broadband networks and give their students equal access to countless digital learning opportunities. And in recent months, data has been essential to our defense of the E-rate program.

Broadband 85

Broadband E-rate Education Data 85

Edsurge

JANUARY 7, 2019

In the survey, school district representatives also answered questions about E-rate, broadband connectivity, cloud computing and data interoperability. Notably, fewer than 10 percent of responding districts can report that all of their students have access to a shared device at home, which means the vast majority of districts are grappling with the issue known as the “homework gap.” Education Technology School Infrastructure Data Privacy

E-rate 114

E-rate Broadband Survey Report 114

eSchool News

JULY 8, 2015

As efforts to increase bandwidth and internet connectivity in K-12 schools grow, a new report from CDW-G, based on a survey of 400 K-12 IT professionals, reveals just now connected — or not — the nation’s classrooms are today. Data from the Federal Communications Commission reveals that the federal E-Rate program has connected nearly all U.S. K-12 Connected Heat Map outlines classroom internet connectivity.

E-rate 110

E-rate Survey Broadband Data 110

Edsurge

JANUARY 12, 2017

This month’s election surfaced the angry divide between urban and rural America, and education is one of these tension points. Ashmore is only one example of a rural town where the summer learning loss issue is very real.The Brookings Institute recently stated, “Rural schools are America’s forgotten educational institutions.” The Harvard Political Review points out that “Publications like Education Week spend much more time discussing urban schools than rural schools.

E-rate 61

E-rate Outcomes Secondary Accessibility 61

EdTech Magazine

MARCH 13, 2018

Those were among the 10 key findings highlighted in the Consortium for School Networking’s fourth K–12 IT Leadership Survey Report , which was released on Monday in conjunction with the opening of CoSN’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The survey also highlighted the different paths men and women take to IT leadership. Langford read the top results of the survey during Monday’s opening plenary session. CoSN 2018: Broadband and Cybersecurity Are Top IT Concerns.

Broadband 221

Broadband EdTech Survey BYOD 221

Edsurge

JANUARY 12, 2017

November's election surfaced the angry divide between urban and rural America, and education is one of these tension points. Ashmore is only one example of a rural town where the summer learning loss issue is very real.The Brookings Institute recently stated, “Rural schools are America’s forgotten educational institutions.” The Harvard Political Review points out that "Publications like Education Week spend much more time discussing urban schools than rural schools.

E-rate 81

E-rate Outcomes Secondary Accessibility 81

The Hechinger Report

JUNE 12, 2017

I give the kids access to all the tools pretty much right off the bat,” said Eric Bredder, with a sweeping gesture taking in the computer workstations, 3-D printers, laser cutters and milling machines, plus a bevy of wood and metalworking tools that he uses while teaching computer science, engineering and design classes. We don’t decide which students get textbooks based on their address, so we shouldn’t do that with digital access.”.

Broadband 92

Broadband Report Blackboard Digital Divide 92

Education Superhighway

FEBRUARY 20, 2018

This could include: Line Item Information: For Category 2 projects (internal connections equipment and services), you are often purchasing a lot of different items, from routers and wireless access points down to jacks, screws and cables. Build Cost Information: If your new Internet Access or WAN service requires special construction of fiber optic or microwave connections, you need to be prepared for a LOT of questions regarding the build costs. NSLP school lunch forms or surveys).

E-rate 84

E-rate Education Survey System 84

Digital Promise

DECEMBER 22, 2015

As you know, Digital Promise is committed to closing the Digital Learning Gap -- ensuring that all learners have equitable access to technology, acquire the skills to fully participate in a connected world, and feel empowered to achieve their life and work goals. Perhaps the single most significant development in ensuring access was the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) modernization of the E-rate program.

E-rate 123

E-rate Libraries Meeting Survey 123

NeverEndingSearch

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

It’s happened to all of us– we’re at school trying to access the perfect website for a learning activity at school and… it’s blocked. While banning books is commonly recognized by librarians as detrimental to the student educational experience, restricted website access isn’t on everyone’s radar. Conduct research to explore the educational uses of social media platforms and assess the impact of filtering in schools.

Libraries 64

Libraries Digital Citizenship E-rate Digital Divide 64

Edsurge

JANUARY 12, 2017

November's election surfaced the angry divide between urban and rural America, and education is one of these tension points. Ashmore is only one example of a rural town where the summer learning loss issue is very real.The Brookings Institute recently stated, “Rural schools are America’s forgotten educational institutions.” The Harvard Political Review points out that “Publications like Education Week spend much more time discussing urban schools than rural schools.

E-rate 60

E-rate Outcomes Secondary Accessibility 60

Education Superhighway

JUNE 13, 2019

Thanks to public E-rate data, state partners, and a national survey , we’ve been able to clarify roughly 98% of school connectivity data and report on the state of Internet in education. Here’s how broadband data provided by school districts across the nation helps improve educational equity for America’s students: 1. Since its inception, E-rate has been instrumental in making K-12 broadband more affordable and accessible.

Broadband 40

Broadband E-rate Data Education 40

eSchool News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Thanks to E-rate, as well as other state and local policy efforts, the education community has largely achieved the original 1997 goal of connecting every classroom to the internet. billion more annually) in E-rate funding means that over the next few years, classroom connections will be broadband with robust wi-fi – an essential requirement for 21st century learning. Yet, many low-income families lack broadband access at home.

Broadband 104

Broadband E-rate Survey Accessibility 104

Securly

JANUARY 12, 2017

Web filtering is required by law, as long as schools wish to receive e-rate funding to supply their digital classrooms. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires that schools “block Internet access to pictures that are (a) obscene (b) child pornography or (c) harmful to minors.” Most students find web filtering to be unnecessarily inhibitive, citing that it blocks perfectly acceptable web pages due to one keyword or denies access to social media pages.

Social Media 133

Social Media E-rate Facebook Elementary 133

Education Superhighway

MARCH 19, 2019

What experiences led you to become passionate about expanding broadband access? We closed that gap by contracting with a team of E-rate experts from E-rate Central and a network design engineer from Mighty River. Through the federal funding mechanism called E-rate we are closing the connectivity gap. We start by gathering data and creating surveys for both residential and commercial so a business case is documented.

Broadband 40

Broadband E-rate Education Social Media 40

Education Superhighway

DECEMBER 5, 2019

With multiple grade levels in each classroom and only three full-time staff members, access to the Internet is critical to providing individualized instruction, distance learning opportunities, and digital equity for students and staff. But equitable access has an emotional component, too.

Khan Academy 59

Khan Academy Education E-rate Accessibility 59

EdTech Magazine

JULY 17, 2018

With every tap of a touchscreen or login onto a laptop, a school’s back-end infrastructure — the maze of servers, racks and cords — is crucial to keep students prepared for their digital education. Taking control of the data center means relegating sufficient space as well as accessibility for schools in remote areas , such as in New Mexico , where school administrators have tackled accessibility from a district level. . How to Avoid Making Data Center Mistakes.

Data 161

Data EdTech How To E-rate 161

Education Superhighway

APRIL 12, 2018

Although the Form 471 filing window has closed, the E-rate process for the 2018 Funding Year isn’t yet over. The email will contain information on how to access the PIA questions via the Erate Productivity Center, or EPC, the same portal through which you filed your 471. Discount Percentage Supporting Documents: These would typically be records of your National School Lunch Program participation, but for schools that do not have a lunch program may be surveys.

Education 86

Education E-rate Survey Meeting 86

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 23, 2019

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. Higher Education. And Marwell wants all of them to experience the types of teaching and learning high-speed internet access facilitates. But there needs to be another initiative now, like a rural internet initiative to get home access for our students.

Report 46

Report E-rate Digital Divide Laptops 46

Edsurge

DECEMBER 1, 2016

Access to the identities of staff and students is one of the main attractions for hackers. Nearly 10 percent of educational institutions in the US have already received “ransomware” to address this according to CETPA president Aaron Barnett in his keynote address at the organization’s most recent annual conference in Sacramento, Calif. Need for flexibility: “I need access to the server to integrate other applications.”.

Symantec 115

Symantec EdTech E-rate Data 115

Educator Innovator

MARCH 7, 2014

This made it difficult to run programs like Pixie or access online math games. Students now interview authors across the country via Skype and access books that match their interests and reading levels on e-readers. Without reliable [internet] access, there’s no way you can do something like that,” Tower said. But when it comes to reliable access, many districts still lag behind, especially in poorer urban and rural areas. By Heidi Moore.

E-rate 41

E-rate Survey Accessibility Tablets 41

eSchool News

MARCH 7, 2016

When Ray Timothy, executive director of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network , saw the results of a new statewide inventory of technology deployed across all 989 Utah public schools, one figure jumped out at him in particular. It was the 100-percent response rate from the survey. “We We knew most districts and schools would respond, but a 100-percent response rate shows that technology is a high priority for education leaders throughout the state,” he said.

Assessment 61

Assessment Digital Learning Survey Broadband 61

eSchool News

APRIL 7, 2016

Access to reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to creating and delivering the deeper learning experiences for students for college and careers, and to compete in a global economy,” said Dr. Tracy Weeks, SETDA’s executive director, in a statement. Lack of broadband access remains a challenge for many Americans–40 percent of those in rural areas and tribal lands lack access to high-speed broadband.

Report 56

Report Advocacy E-rate Policies 56

Hack Education

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Education Politics. Department of Education released the America’s College Promise Playbook , a comprehensive and up-to-date resource guide that provides practitioners with relevant and actionable information about how they can offer more students access to an affordable, high-quality education through which students can go as far as their talents and work ethic can take them.” Education in the Courts.

MOOC 64

MOOC Report Pearson E-rate 64

Hack Education

DECEMBER 12, 2017

This is part six of my annual look at the year’s “ top ed-tech stories ” Some of the most oft-told tales in education in recent years have the following plot: the students all move from “brick-and-mortar” to “online.” There was all that ink spilled circa 2010 that Khan Academy and “ flipped learning ” were going to “ change the rules of education ,” replacing in-class instruction with online videos watched as homework.

MOOC 55

MOOC Coursera Broadband Khan Academy 55

Hack Education

DECEMBER 15, 2017

(National) Education Politics. Thoughts on how this might effect education from Inside Higher Ed , from NPR , from Internet2 (via Bryan Alexander), from The Washington Post , and from Edsurge. Not Net Neutrality, but another potential FCC move – ending the E-Rate program. Via Pacific Standard : “Why Is the FCC Considering Cutting Broadband Access for Students?” ” (State and Local) Education Politics. Education in the Courts.

Kaplan 50

Kaplan Knewton Dropout Robotics 50