[Erate] E-Rate State matching Program grant applications for 2019

[State E-Rate]

Dear Districts,

I wanted to let everyone know that the application period for the Connecting Oregon Schools matching funds is now open. Applications will be accepted through March 22, 2019 at the end of the day. Please find attached the school district application and the application for consortia to apply, including an additional spreadsheet. Public charter schools that wish to apply will use the district application.

Key Information:

*         Application period is from March 4 to March 22.

*         Must submit all applications electronically.

*         Applications are for 2019 FCC Applications for Category 1 E-Rate projects.

Background
The E-rate program from the federal government has two broad types of funds available to school districts. The program that relates to the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund is the Category 1 special construction program. This program provides funding to districts, based on a district's discount rate, to pay for constructing additional internet infrastructure to a district's schools.

Currently, the federal government is providing funding to cover an additional 10% of the eligible costs of a construction program if the state provides a matching grant of 10% of the eligible construction costs. The Connecting Oregon Schools Fund is Oregon's matching fund. Depending on the discount rate and other factors, these additional funds mean a district could get additional internet infrastructure paid for with state and federal money.

The Connecting Oregon Schools Fund was created in 2018. It did not receive funding at the time it was created. However, in September 2018, the E-Board of the Oregon Legislature appropriated funds to cover the state match requirement for those districts that applied for the federal funds in 2018.

Current Application Period
At this time, there are no funds in the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund for 2019 applications. However, should the Legislature identify resources during the 2019 session for this Fund, we want to ensure we have a pipeline of projects with demonstrated need. To aid in that, we are asking districts that are filing with the federal government for special construction funds during the 2019 application period, to also apply for the state match. This will show the Legislature how much funding will be needed for 2019 and can help develop stable funding in the future to help expand the program to additional districts.

Program Operations
The matching program has three phases. The first is the application phase. This phase helps determine how many applicants the matching grant will have and the total need of the grants.

The second phase is awarding the grants. Assuming that there will not be enough funds to cover all of the need that districts have, the Oregon Department of Education  has developed a priority formula for districts. The goal is to ensure that those districts that are small, higher poverty levels, rural, and have a bad internet connection will receive funding ahead of other districts. The priority formula looks at a district's free and reduce lunch percentages (the same data the E-Rate discount rate is based on), number of schools, existence of a remote small elementary school, and the connection type and speed. Using these variables, districts are ranked with the largest scores providing the highest priority. Once funding levels are determined, districts are fully funded in rank order.

The third phase is awarding the funds. In this phase districts will need to submit a grant agreement and then submit invoices for the state portion of the total costs of construction.

Conclusion
Thank you for providing us with the applications for this matching grant. This can help all of us reduce the digital divide in this state and ensure that all districts have equitable access to the internet. If after reading through the applications and instructions, you still have additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,
Michael


[cid:image002.jpg at 01D4D020.87EDDA70]
Oregon achieves . . . together!

Michael Elliott
School Facilities Program Manager
Oregon Department of Education | Office of Finance and Administration
503-947-5627 cell:503-551-9227
Michael.s.elliott at state.or.us<mailto:Michael.s.elliott at state.or.us> | www.oregon.gov/ode<http://www.oregon.gov/ode>



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