E-Rate Technology Plan Requirements

To be eligible to receive E-Rate discounts, public and charter schools in Texas must obtain technology plan approval from Texas Education Agency. To meet E-Rate requirements of the FCC Fifth Report and Order, FCC 04-190, released August 13, 2004, technology plans must include the following five elements:

1. The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services;
2. The plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services;
3. The plan must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services;
4. The plan must provide a sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discounted elements of the plan: the hardware, software, professional development and other services that will be needed to implement the strategy; and
5. The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities and they arise.

Technology plans should align district goals and objectives for infrastructure and Internet access with professional development and curriculum reform.

USAC - Step 2: Develop a Technology Plan

All public school districts and charter schools in Texas which seek technology plan approval must submit the technology plan in the Texas e-Plan system. To assure adequate timeline for the technology plan peer review process in Texas, plans must be submitted in the Texas e-Plan prior to March 31st.

However, districts must adhere to USAC E-Rate timelines. Beginning Funding Year 9, 2005-2006, the USAC Form 470 certification statement required technology plans to be written prior to filing the USAC Form 470. This certification statement is also included on the USAC Form 471. Districts and charter schools should adhere to these requirements as technology plans are an item of interest in selective reviews, site visits, or audits. Districts and charters must certify that technology plans were approved before the beginning of service start date when filing the USAC Form 486.