E-rate Implications for Link-to-Learn
Message Posted November 23, 1998
As E-rate Funding Commitment Letters are due to be mailed, several questions have arisen concerning how E-rate discounts and subsequent E-rate
reimbursements affect the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Link-to-Learn initiative. This memo serves to answer several of these questions.
E-rate Reimbursement
As a general matter, your Link-to-Learn Grants are unrelated to E-rate reimbursements because the representations you made to the Department of
Education, in signing the Service Purchase Contract, are not dependent upon E-rate reimbursement, nor does your contract govern how that reimbursement
may be expended. Further, Link-to-Learn Year 2 Grants must be expended by December 31, 1998 and reimbursement checks will not be received until at
least January, 1999, thus making such a relationship impossible.
Also, there is no requirement by the Department of Education, the Federal Communications Commission, or the Schools and Libraries Corporation that
reimbursements be spent on E-rate eligible or other technology related items. The Department of Education recommends, however, that districts
consider spending E-rate reimbursements in conjunction with the district's technology plan.
Link-to-Learn Year 2 Extensions
More than 200 school districts requested, and were granted, extensions by the Department of Education to spend Link-to-Learn Year 2 funds until
December 31, 1998. Reasons for this request varied, but many districts wanted to wait until they receive their E-rate Funding Commitment Letters
in order to leverage and stretch their Link-to-Learn Grants.
If school districts still have not spent Link-to-Learn Year 2 funds in anticipation of the E-rate funding commitment letter, we strongly encourage
them not to wait for this letter and to proceed with spending funds by the extension deadline of December 31, 1998. The reason for this is that
districts may not receive E-rate funding commitment letters until at least January, 1999. One option may be for affected districts to leverage their
E-rate discounts against their Link-to-Learn Year 3 Grant that they received in early Fall. As you know, Year 3 Grants are not required to
be expended until December 31, 1999. Please note: districts must have all Link-to-Learn Year 2 budget revisions submitted to the Department of
Education by November 30, 1998.
In very exceptional cases, the Department may be able to grant another extension for Year 2 funds in the event that such a need is based on the
delay in receiving E-rate funds. The district would have to contact the Department and make a strong case as to why it cannot spend Year 2 funds by
December 31, 1998 and leverage the E-rate discounts against Link-to-Learn Year 3 Grants. Regardless of this extension, districts still must have all
budget revisions done by November 30, 1998 for their Link-to-Learn Year 2 Grants.
Questions concerning these issues should be directed to Walter Leech at (717) 705-4486. Thank you for your continued patience with that has become
a very frustrating situation generated by the E-rate. We look forward to working with you in the months ahead.
Julie L. Tritt
Executive Policy Specialist
Office of Educational Technology
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Tel: (717) 705-4486
Fax: (717) 787-7222
00jtritt@psupen.psu.edu
www.L2L.org
| 
Back to 1998 Archives Main