Funding Rural School Connectivity: A Multi-pronged Approach
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Colorado Convention Center, 603
Presenters


Session description
Purpose & objective
Participants will learn about one district’s efforts to provide universal access to technology and the internet throughout their communities. They will discover how planning, communication, and flexibility can be used time and again to achieve their goals. Multiple funding sources will be shared, and the practice of braiding funding will be explained in a way that can be easily understood, shared, and duplicated in their own districts.
Outline
Introductions (5 min)
Information about presenters, Trico CUSD #176 and the Learning Technology Center of Illinois (introduction of shared notes for session)
Needs and active solutions (10 min)
Impact of the pandemic and realization of needs (interactive needs quiz activity)
Administrative support and the importance of strategic planning and implementation
The importance of partnership and collaboration
Parents as co-teachers and community buy-in
Leveraging current resources (10 min)
Expansion of internet to multiple communities
Leveraging E-Rate for on-campus improvements (audience brainstorming)
The benefits of ECF and planning for the future
Looking towards the future (10 min)
The Affordable Connectivity Program and outreach
Leveraging federal and state funds to the fullest extent (think-pair-share)
Sharing the story and spreading the wealth of knowledge
Q&A (5 min)
Supporting research
How High-Speed Fiber Broadband Benefits Public Education (https://www.bbcmag.com/law-and-policy/how-high-speed-fiber-broadband-benefits-public-education#:~:text=Broadband's%20Benefits%20for%20Education&text=This%20means%20that%20more%20students,research%20for%20more%20significant%20projects)
Funding Opportunities: NTIA Broadband (https://www.ntia.gov/category/funding-programs)
USAC E-Rate Program (https://www.usac.org/e-rate/)
SETDA Broadband Imperative (https://www.setda.org/priorities/equity-of-access/broadband-imperative/)
Office of Ed Tech - US Department of Education (https://tech.ed.gov/funding/)
Future Ready Schools - All4Ed (https://all4ed.org/future-ready-schools/)
Session specifications
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows
Equity and Citizenship Advocate
- Ensure all students have access to the technology and connectivity necessary to participate in authentic and engaging learning opportunities.
- Support educators in using technology to advance learning that meets the diverse learning, cultural, and social-emotional needs of individual students.
- Lead teams to collaboratively establish robust infrastructure and systems needed to implement the strategic plan.