February 1, 2017<\/p>\n
~ Form 471 Window Dates Not Yet Set ~<\/p>\n
In the next few days, USAC will be announcing the opening of a special \u201cAdministrative Window\u201d during which time schools —\u00a0 not libraries or consortia \u2013 can update their schools\u2019 enrollment and NSLP in EPC.\u00a0 This special Admin Window is required order to avoid having two separate Form 471 filing windows for FY 2017.\u00a0 The Admin Window is expected to be open for 3-4 weeks, and after that, the school data will be \u201clocked down\u201d and the Form 471 window will open.\u00a0 After the Admin Window closes, it will not be possible to update this data in the EPC profiles because that data will be linked to active library and consortia applications.<\/p>\n
I am working on updating the PDE Enrollment\/NSLP Data file (and merging it with the CEP data file) and will send this to the listserve as soon as the Admin Window is announced. \u00a0Please review your schools\u2019 data carefully to ensure that it is accurate and if it is not, contact PDE\u2019s Bureau of Food and Nutrition immediately and let me know as well (each year a handful of schools notice glaring clerical errors that were made when their food service official updated their information in the PDE database).\u00a0 I\u2019ll also prepare a special Guide to Updating EPC Profiles and send with the NSLP data.<\/p>\n
As we discussed in the fall trainings, USAC is expected to allow applicants to use the enrollment\/NSLP data that is currently in EPC from FY 2016 \u2013 OR \u2013 use the updated data that will be in the PDE NSLP Valid file (you\u2019ll have to use the full dataset from one year or the other \u2013 you can\u2019t pick and choose which schools use which years\u2019 data).\u00a0 Therefore it is important that you carefully review last year\u2019s enrollment\/NSLP data to see which is more advantageous to your district.\u00a0 Although unlikely, your discount may have decreased from last year.\u00a0 Another major reason to not update your data is if the enrollment has declined this year and thus your Category 2 budgets will be less.<\/p>\n
Reminder: You should NOT update your FY 2017 enrollment\/NSLP data in EPC now \u2013 you must want for the Admin Window to open.<\/p>\n
Also, at some point before your Form 471 is filed, you\u2019ll want to review the Connectivity Data in your EPC Profile to ensure it\u2019s still accurate.\u00a0 If nothing has changed, you don\u2019t have to do anything.\u00a0 If something has changed, you\u2019ll want to update it before the Form 471 is filed.\u00a0 I\u2019ll send a separate message with a spreadsheet showing the data you submitted in your EPC profile last year so you\u2019ll know if you need to update this module.<\/p>\n
If you have any questions, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net<\/a>!<\/p>\n — Julie<\/p>\n Julie Tritt Schell Penn*link<\/p>\n\n
\nPA E-rate Coordinator
\n717-730-7133 – o
\n717-730-9060 – f
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/a><\/p>\n