![\"Image_1\"](\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Image_12.png\")
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E-rate discounts can range from 20% to 90% for Category 1 services or from 20% to 85% for Category 2 equipment and services, depending on the rurality of a school, and the level of economic need of the school district, as determined by the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program. \u00a0Both of these sets of information are then used to determine the school district\u2019s discount by using the E-rate Discount Matrix<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rural\/Urban Designations<\/strong> NSLP\/CEP Participation Data<\/strong>
\nStarting with Funding Year 2015, the FCC updated the definition of “rural\u201d and the manner in which schools and libraries determine their urban or rural status. An individual school and library will be designated as “urban” if located in an “Urbanized Area” or “Urban Cluster” with a population of 25,000 or more as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Any school or library not designated “urban” will be designated as “rural.”\u00a0 If more than 50% of the schools in a school district or libraries in\u00a0a library system are considered rural, the school district or library system is eligible for a rural discount. If 50% or less of the entities are considered rural, the school district or library system is eligible for an urban discount.<\/p>\n
\nEach October, schools submit to PDE their NSLP participation data, which is then validated and typically released in January. The following are links to current and previous years\u2019 NSLP Data, as well as CEP data, as reported by schools:<\/p>\n