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The Role Of E-Rate Program In Improving Educational Quality

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The role of E-rate in improving educational quality

E-rate may be the most important program created to help schools and libraries get low-cost telecommunications and Internet access. E-rate has been giving discounts on telecommunication services, internet connections, and Internet access since 1997 to eligible schools and libraries around the country, allowing them to offer more services to the general public.

Why is E-rate funding important?

Learning can be very interesting and easy with the help of digital tools and resources. Students and teachers can learn more effectively if they have more interesting ways and tools to learn. That is why reliable high-speed internet access isn't a "good to have;" it's a necessity. E-rate provides the facility of digital transformation to schools and libraries to improve the educational quality and results. With the help of digital tools, schools and libraries can achieve their educational goals.

Teachers and students can conduct real-time research, complete homework, and collaborate with other classes due to this. The ongoing growth of innovative digital learning technology and the need to connect students, teachers, and consumers to employment, lifelong learning, and information have elevated internet needs in schools and libraries. The efforts to get it updated helps the E-rate to meet the excessive demands of the Internet in schools and libraries.

E-rate program modernization

The federal communication commission started updating the E-rate in 2010. On July 11, 2014, the E-rate Modernization Order was signed, allowing schools and libraries to grow Wi-Fi networks while maintaining support for broadband access. The program focuses on the most pressing need to bridge the Wi-Fi gap while shifting assistance away from legacy technologies and toward 21st-century broadband access, ensuring that E-rate money is spent properly.

The federal communication commission reformed its policies in 2015 because of which ten million students have access to the Internet and quality education. To help the schools and libraries to purchase the fast speed internet, the federal communication commission updated its policies in 2014.

Federal Requirement: 

As a result of a federal mandate, school districts must certify that their students have received Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship education.  The important requirement for public schools to receive E-rate compliance funding is to provide awareness to students. Students should be aware of appropriate online behavior, the usage of social websites, interaction with the people on the Internet, and cyber bullying. These requirements of providing awareness protect the students from any harm on the Internet.


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