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To comply with the E-Rate program and receive federal funds, the Prescott School Board approved seven policies and agreements.
During the board’s January meeting, held Monday, Jan. 23, Doug Smith, the district’s technical expert, said the panel had to approve the policies and agreements in order to continue receiving money through the E-Rate program. He explained the program as being grants provided by the federal government and governed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide money to schools and libraries for technology across the nation.
What this does, he said, is allow school districts to enhance the available Internet resources for students. The district, he added, is required to enforce the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), along with implementing it.
In addition, the district must work on its technology plan for 2012-2015 and upload these documents showing they were approved at a school board meeting.
The FCC, he said, requires school districts to have a technology plan in order to be in the E-Rate program or the request for funding will be denied. However, he continued, the board can show where it’s developed its own plan for the district or modify the plan presented by the E-Rate Resource Group. Smith pointed out each policy and agreement had to be approved individually.
Student guidelines for using the Internet, he said, were approved in 2009 by the handbook committee and the board’s approval was only required by E-Rate this year instead of the handbook group.
The technical plan, he said, can be modified annually. The last time the plan was approved was 2009, he told the board, and at the time iPads were not available. Since then iPads and other similar pads, have exploded on the computer market and could be added to the district’s wireless network. This, he told the board, would require a modifying document, which could be obtained on-line through the Arkansas Department of Education.
The discipline policy was done two years ago, he said, and doesn’t need to be changed.
To comply with the E-Rate program and receive federal funds, the Prescott School Board approved seven policies and agreements.
During the board’s January meeting, held Monday, Jan. 23, Doug Smith, the district’s technical expert, said the panel had to approve the policies and agreements in order to continue receiving money through the E-Rate program. He explained the program as being grants provided by the federal government and governed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide money to schools and libraries for technology across the nation.
What this does, he said, is allow school districts to enhance the available Internet resources for students. The district, he added, is required to enforce the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), along with implementing it.
In addition, the district must work on its technology plan for 2012-2015 and upload these documents showing they were approved at a school board meeting.
The FCC, he said, requires school districts to have a technology plan in order to be in the E-Rate program or the request for funding will be denied. However, he continued, the board can show where it’s developed its own plan for the district or modify the plan presented by the E-Rate Resource Group. Smith pointed out each policy and agreement had to be approved individually.
Student guidelines for using the Internet, he said, were approved in 2009 by the handbook committee and the board’s approval was only required by E-Rate this year instead of the handbook group.
The technical plan, he said, can be modified annually. The last time the plan was approved was 2009, he told the board, and at the time iPads were not available. Since then iPads and other similar pads, have exploded on the computer market and could be added to the district’s wireless network. This, he told the board, would require a modifying document, which could be obtained on-line through the Arkansas Department of Education.
The discipline policy was done two years ago, he said, and doesn’t need to be changed.
