PDE Posts NCES Codes Needed for Form 471
Message Posted January 10, 2005
Beginning with Year 8 (Funding Year 2005), the SLD is requiring that each
entity listed in a Block 4 (the discount calculation section), have 3 unique
identifying numbers:
1) E-rate entity number
This number is not new and each entity listed in your Block 4 has always had
an entity number. It's not a new number you have to obtain; it's in the
SLD's databases and will appear automatically when you complete your Block
4. If you have a school or non-instructional building that has never been
listed on a Block 4, you can and should call the SLD's help-desk
(888-203-8100) to obtain an entity number before you complete your
application.
2) FCC Registration Number
This is the new number that is required of each entity in Block 4, beginning
this year. The FCCRNs have been the subject of several recent e-mails to
this listserve. This year's E-rate applications unfortunately do not
contain a field for the FCCRNs, but if you use the template upload feature I
proposed, they will be entered automatically into the SLD's databases. If
you obtained any FCCRNs via the FCC website, you will just have to fax them
to the SLD with your Item 21 attachments. DO NOT WAIT TO SUBMIT YOUR 471
JUST BECAUSE OF THE FCCRNs. You can submit the FCCRNs after the window
closes.
3) NCES code
This number is assigned by the National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES) to every school (public and nonpublic) and every library (normally
called FSCS codes). These are NOT new numbers and CANNOT be obtained if you
don't have one. On PDE's E-rate website under Helpful Documents, there is a
new link called NCES codes where you will find NCES codes for both public
and nonpublic schools:
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/ed_tech/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=109644
Also on PDE's website is a link to the FSCS codes for libraries:
http://www.statelibrary.state.pa.us/libraries/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=99788
A few important points regarding NCES codes:
1) If you go to these links and can't find your NCES code, leave that item
blank on your application. A warning box may pop-up, but just click OK and
proceed.
2) The SLD has attempted to pre-populate your Block 4 entries with
appropriate NCES codes obtained from the US Dept. of Education. If your
code appears and is wrong, please change it. If it is blank, you should
fill it in if you have the NCES code for that building.
3) The Block 4 is tricky. It asks for the NCES codes in three boxes:
State District Building. The system will accept 2 digits for State, 5
digits for District, and 5 Digits for Building. The system will accept both
letters and numbers, but not dashes. When the data is entered into the
SLD's databases, all of the digits entered in these 3 boxes will be
combined. So for example if you list 42 1234 12345, the following
will be entered into the SLD's database: 42123412345. Therefore it is
important that you NOT enter extra zeros into a box in order to create 5
digits.
4) For public schools, the information posted to PDE's website shows the
District Name, the School Name, the LEA NCES ID, and then the NCES School.
Below is an example of what's in the public school NCES spreadsheet vs. what
you should post in Block 4:
NCES LEA ID NCES School ID
4202100 0002115
Enter in Block 4: 42 (State) 02100 (District) 2155 (Building)
5) For nonpublic schools, the information posted to PDE's website simply
has a single column for your NCES code, entitled: PSS School ID and your
NCES codes look like this: K9305262 or 01905778. In that case, you should
probably list your info in Block 4 like this: K9 30526 2. It seems odd
that you would not enter PA or 42 in the State field, but according to the
SLD, they don't want you to add any digits that aren't in your NCES code.
6) For libraries, the information posted on PDE's website contains 2
columns, entitled: FSCSKEY and LIBID. Important: Use the LIBID as your
NCES (FSCS) code. Below is an example of what's in the library NCES (FSCS)
spreadsheet vs. what you should post in Block 4:
LIBID
PA0176002
Enter in Block 4: PA (State) 01760 (District) 02 (Building)
I hope this information is helpful as you navigate the Form 471. If you
have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at
jtschell@comcast.net
-- Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
jtschell@comcast.net
(717) 730.7133 (voice)
(717) 730.9060 (fax)
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