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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Districts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Key Information:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>Application period is from March 4 to March 22.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>Must submit all applications electronically.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]>Applications are for 2019 FCC Applications for Category 1 E-Rate projects.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Background<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Current Application Period<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Program Operations</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michael<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#1B75BC"><img width="230" height="62" style="width:2.3958in;height:.6458in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D4D020.87EDDA70"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><i><span style="font-size:12.5pt;color:#1B75BC">Oregon achieves . . . together!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:90%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:90%;color:#1B75BC">Michael Elliott<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:90%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:90%">School Facilities Program Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:90%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:90%">Oregon Department of Education | Office of Finance and Administration<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:90%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:90%">503-947-5627 cell:503-551-9227<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:90%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:90%"><a href="mailto:Michael.s.elliott@state.or.us">Michael.s.elliott@state.or.us</a> |
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/ode">www.oregon.gov/ode</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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