Education Technology K12 Voucher Program

1
Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program

• Administered by California Department of
  Education, Education Technology Office

2
Overview

• The Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program
  resulted from the Settlement Agreement between
  California consumers and Microsoft Corporation.
• 2/3 of the funds remaining after the consumer
  settlement has been satisfied will be available
  for dissemination via vouchers to eligible
  schools.

3
Settlement Timeline

• September 18, 2006 Posting of the online Request
  for Applications (RFA).
• The RFA will include the estimated award amount,
  based on all potentially eligible schools being
  funded.
• September 25, 2006 LEAs receive notification of
  the voucher allocation for their eligible
  schools, and on a weekly basis after this date,
  based on completion of RFA.
• June 30, 2008 The online RFA completion deadline.

4
Settlement Timeline

• July 1, 2006 The start date for purchases under
  this program (an earlier date is possible).
• August 2008 The voucher allocations will be
  recalculated and revised voucher award
  notifications are sent to LEAs.
• September 2012 Vouchers redemption deadline
  (actual date in September TBD).
• TBD Second Cy Pres allocation is determined and
  online RFA is posted.

5
Eligibility

• Eligible schools are ALL K-12 public schools at
  which at least 40 percent of the attending
  students are eligible to receive free or reduced
  price meals through the National School Lunch
  Program.
• Eligible schools also include all public high
  schools in California that serve students from
  eligible elementary, middle and junior high
  schools (Feeder School Provision)
• If the free or reduced price meals data was
  submitted incorrectly, LEAs had until August 31,
  2006, to submit a correction via the ConApp, Page
  45.

6
Eligibility, contd.

• The definition of a public high school, for the
  purposes of this program, is any school that
  serves
• Grade 9 only, or
• Serves one or more grades 10-12, and no grade
  below 7.
• Only public high schools may qualify under the
  feeder school provision.
• The public high school definition and feeder
  school provision apply to all continuation,
  alternative, and other types of schools that meet
  the definition.

7
Eligibility, contd.

• The definition of a feeder school to a regular
  public high school is any eligible elementary or
  middle and junior high school in which the high
  school's currently-enrolled students were
  enrolled and who reside within the attendance
  boundaries for the high school.
• The definition of a feeder school to an open
  enrollment or magnet public high school is any
  eligible elementary or middle and junior high
  school in which the high school's
  currently-enrolled students had been enrolled.
• Student transfers do not apply under this program.

8
Eligibility, contd.

• Districts must have a current, state-approved
  technology plan.
• Districts will apply for the vouchers on behalf
  of their eligible schools.
• State Special Schools, Direct Funded Charter
  Schools, and County Offices of Education do not
  have to meet the state-approved technology plan
  requirement and will apply on their own behalf.

9
Online RFA Process

• The online RFA process for LEAs to apply on
  behalf of their eligible schools will work as
  follows
• Lead Education Agency (LEA) receives notification
  letter with PIN and password from the CDE
• Authorized LEA representative logs in and
  completes information for electronic signature
  (name, title, phone, fax, email, etc.)
• Authorized LEA representative enters up to three
  LEA contacts who are authorized to sign and
  submit the voucher redemption forms (name, title,
  phone, fax, email, etc.)

10
Online RFA Process

• The online RFA process for LEAs to apply on
  behalf of their eligible schools will work as
  follows
• LEA views list of eligible elementary,
  middle/junior high, and high schools, based upon
  the October 2005 CBEDS
• If the LEA has high schools with less than 40
  free or reduced lunch eligibility, on a school by
  school basis they must identify ONE eligible
  elementary or middle/junior high feeder school
  for each high school

11
Online RFA Process, contd.

• The online RFA process for LEAs to apply on
  behalf of their eligible schools will work as
  follows
• District enters (copy/paste or enter manually) a
  two paragraph narrative on how the vouchers will
  be utilized to support the implementation of the
  districts technology plan
• County Offices, Direct-Funded Charters, State
  Special Schools enters (copy/paste or enter
  manually) a two paragraph narrative on how the
  vouchers will be utilized to support the
  implementation of their technology plan or other
  technology planning document.

12
Online RFA Process, contd.

• The online RFA process for LEAs to apply on
  behalf of their eligible schools will work as
  follows
• LEA prints its application, obtains an original
  ink signature, and files the application for
  audit purposes (similar to ConApp process).
• LEA submits its application electronically for
  approval.

13
RFA Approval Process

• Once the LEA has submitted its application
• The CDE reviews, approves, and submits the
  information to the Settlement Claims
  Administrator (SCA).
• The SCA sends the Voucher Award letter to the LEA.

14
RFA Implementation Planning

• To ensure that the RFA process goes smoothly, the
  following actions are strongly recommended
• Sign-up for the CDE Funding Opportunities
  listserv to be notified when the RFA is released
  (http//www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/af/joinlist.asp).
• If the LEA has schools that meet the public high
  school definition but have less than 40 free or
  reduced lunch eligibility, do the research to
  identify the feeder school(s), if applicable.

15
RFA Implementation Planning

• To ensure that the RFA process goes smoothly, the
  following actions are strongly recommended
• Assemble a team of district stakeholders,
  including curriculum, technology, and
  administration representatives.
• Review your current district technology plan.
• Discuss how these funds can support the plans
  curriculum and professional development
  objectives.
• Create a 4-6 year plan to expend these funds to
  support the technology plan objectives.
• Work with your regional CTAP to prepare the two
  paragraph LEA technology plan narrative.

16
Voucher Allocation

• The October 2005 CBEDS data will be used to
  determine the amount of vouchers for each
  eligible school.
• The initial allocation will be about 50 per
  student, with an increase expected in Spring
  2007.
• Allocation is based upon the total enrollment at
  eligible schools.
• LEAs may determine amount of vouchers to be
  utilized at each school, but vouchers may only be
  utilized at eligible schools.

17
Voucher Allocation by Type


18
General PurposeVouchers

• These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying
  hardware
• Any new desktop, laptop or tablet computer for
  any operating system
• Peripheral devices, specifically meaning
  printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards and
  pointing devices (e.g., mouse, trackball, etc.)
• Equipment needed for networking and
  infrastructure (e.g., routers, servers, server
  cables, wireless network cards, or wireless
  access points)

19
General PurposeVouchers

• These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying
  hardware
• Hardware for accessing the Internet through
  television sets and Internet access for such
  hardware for students' homes
• Non-custom assistive technology devices for use
  by students with special needs
• Cost of products may not exceed standard academic
  price

20
General Purpose Vouchers, contd.

• These vouchers may be redeemed for
• Certification training for software and
  networking
• Evaluation tools
• Data storage and management at remote sites
• Cost of products may not exceed standard academic
  price

21
General Purpose Vouchers, contd.

• These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying
  Professional Development Services directed solely
  at
• Leadership development for school administrators
  in the use of education technology to improve
  learning at the site or district
• General curriculum development and instructional
  strategies which utilize educational technology
  to improve instruction
• Improvement of technology integration for any
  software title acquired through the Settlement
• Training in the use of any hardware or any
  software title acquired through the Settlement

22
General Purpose Vouchers, contd.

• These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying
  software
• Any non-custom software title from any publisher
  that could be used with any Qualifying Hardware
• Cost of software may not exceed standard academic
  price

23
General Purpose Vouchers, contd.

• These vouchers may be redeemed for IT Support
  Services, which are services that
• Primarily involve the support and maintenance of
  hardware procured through this Settlement
• Primarily involve the installation and
  maintenance of software procured through this
  Settlement
• Cost of service may not exceed standard academic
  price

24
General Purpose Vouchers Advice

• Before the LEA purchases any product or service
  that does not clearly meet the General Purpose
  Voucher criteria, the LEA should contact the
  Settlement Claims Administrator (SCA) to verify
  the product or service eligibility.
• For information on product or service redemption
  eligibility, contact the SCA call center for the
  California Education Technology K-12 Voucher
  Program. The toll free number is 800-419-5286.
  Current hours of operation are 700 a.m. to 430
  p.m. PST. 

25
Software Vouchers

• These vouchers may only be redeemed for any
  non-custom software title from any publisher that
  sells software products falling into specific
  categories.

26
Software Vouchers,contd.

• Operating system
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation
• Desktop relational database oriented towards
  single users and typically residing on a standard
  personal computer
• Web-authoring
• Productivity Suite
• Encyclopedia

27
Software Vouchers,contd.

• These vouchers also may be redeemed for any
  non-custom software title from any publisher that
  meets the following criteria
• Server software, including client access licenses
• Eligible software bundled with a computer
  purchased with the General Purpose Vouchers
• Eligible schools may also select a license
  program that gives students the option to use the
  software at home.
• Cost of software may not exceed standard academic
  price

28
Software Vouchers Advice

• Before the LEA purchases any software that does
  not clearly meet the Software Voucher criteria,
  the LEA should contact the SCA to verify the
  software eligibility.
• For information on product or service redemption
  eligibility, contact the SCA call center for the
  California Education Technology K-12 Voucher
  Program. The toll free number is 800-419-5286.
  Current hours of operation are 700 a.m. to 430
  p.m. PST.

29
Voucher Restrictions

• Vouchers may be not be redeemed for
• Personal digital assistants and other hand-held
  devices
• Video conferencing equipment
• Cables, speakers, tape back up or storage units,
  read/write devices (i.e. external hard drives,
  USB drives, CD/DVD drives, etc.), zip drives,
  memory, video or audio cards, motherboards and
  CPUs that are not included as part of the
  purchase of a computer
• Video and audio tapes, CDs, or DVDs

30
Voucher Restrictions, contd.

• Vouchers may be not be redeemed for
• Costs for substitutes
• Salaries (unless directly related to goods and/or
  services purchased with program vouchers- such as
  IT support and professional development, and the
  LEA is an approved provider)
• Insurance on goods acquired with program
  vouchers. Vouchers may be redeemed for
  warranties, however.
• Indirect costs

31
Voucher Restrictions, contd.

• Vouchers may supplement, but not supplant state
  and/or federal program funds
• Vouchers may not be redeemed for the discounted
  or reimbursed portion of a product and/or
  service, i.e. E-RATE, AB 466, etc.
• Professional development and/or IT support
  services redemption may only be for those
  services provided by approved providers(The
  list of approved providers can be found at
  http//www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/st/etvproviders.asp)

32
Voucher Redemption Process

• Vouchers will be redeemed using the following
  process
• The LEA contacts the SCA to verify product or
  service eligibility, if eligibility is at all
  ambiguous.
• The LEA purchases the allowable goods or services
  using existing funding
• The LEA submits the voucher redemption form with
  required documentation to the SCA (information on
  what must be submitted will be printed on the
  voucher redemption form)

33
Voucher Redemption Process, contd

• Vouchers will be redeemed using the following
  process
• The SCA reviews the submission and follows up
  with the LEA if corrections are needed
• Once approved, the SCA sends the check to the LEA
  along with an updated voucher form
• The process will take 30 days
• The SCA is required to post, on a public Web
  site, the voucher award amount and redemption
  status for all LEAs

34
Voucher Redemption Issues

• To ensure that the process goes smoothly for
  LEAs, the following actions are strongly
  recommended
• Before the LEA purchases goods or services,
  verify with the SCA that they are allowable if
  there is any question regarding eligibility.
• Be aware that vendors may believe that any of
  their services are allowable because they are on
  the approved professional development or IT
  services provider list
• Be aware that vendors may believe that their
  products are allowable because they are on the
  approved professional development or IT services
  provider list

35
Voucher Redemption Issues, contd

• To ensure that the process goes smoothly for
  LEAs, the following actions are strongly
  recommended
• If goods or services are also eligible for
  discounts or reimbursement, setup the claims to
  avoid double-dipping
• If an LEA provides professional development
  and/or IT support services, the LEA should apply
  to be an approved provider (June 30, 2012,
  deadline for applying)
• Develop a plan to fully utilize the Software
  Vouchers over the next six years

36
For More Information

• Ed Tech Voucher Program Web Site
  http//www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/st/etv.asp
• Gary Quiring
• Educational Programs Consultant
• Education Technology Office
• California Department of Education
• Phone [phone]
• FAX [phone]
• gquiring_at_cde.ca.gov