Update on Year 2, March Window Applications
Message Posted June 16, 2000
* Different USCN Number Must Be Given to SLD for PEPPM Purchases*
* Data Entry Begins *
* Funding Commitment Letters Expected Around September *
Last week, the SLD began data-entering the applications that were received in the Year 2, March application window -- many of which were from Pennsylvania (good job).
* * *Important* * * If your institution applied for funding during this window and the request was from the PEPPM contract, the SLD likely will be calling you asking for an alternative USCN (470 application number). The reason for this is that the original USCN is coded in the SLD computers as having expired on December, 1999. The new USCN number to provide the SLD staff when they call with questions about your March PEPPM application is: 734470000245091.
We tried having the SLD issue a blanket change so they didn't have to call each PA applicant, but their rules and procedures require a call to be made directly to the applicant and for the alternative USCN to come from the applicant.
Will you be funded?
The question still remains how many March window applicants will receive funding. We do know that $242 million was requested during the March window, and that when the SLD announced the March window they reported that, "less than $250 million was available for additional applications...) What we don't know, and they say they also don't know yet, is exactly how much they will have. That answer probably rests on how many funding requests go unspent from Year 2. On the last E-rate conference call they stated they didn't think they could fund everyone who applied within the March window.
So what does this mean? We know that if you filed between April 7, 1999 and March 1, 2000, you will receive funding for Year 2. It also seems obvious that if you have a discount of 80-90% and you applied in the March window, you will be funded (those applications receive first funding priority, regardless of when they were received). After that, your funding rests on what date they received your application (date received, not discount, determines who receives the remainder of the funds). I suspect that applicants that expressed-mailed their applications during the first two weeks of March have the best chance of being funded.
Although the SLD is beginning to data-enter March applications, the PIA staff won't begin their review until all Year 3 applications have been processed. Therefore, you can probably expect to see March window funding commitments being mailed around September.
IMPORTANT
Don't forget that if you filed a March window application for a PEPPM purchase, the SLD will be calling you to change the USCN number. Use 734470000245091.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me.
-- Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
Executive Policy Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
(717) 705-4486
(717) 787-7222 - fax
jtritt@state.pa.us
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