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TEA Correspondence

A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

July 15, 2011

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:     Title II, Part D; STaR Chart; ePlan; and E-Rate

As part of the budget negotiations at the federal level, Congress recently eliminated all funding for the Title II, Part D – Enhancing Education Through Technology program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), better known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As a result of this loss of funding, there will be changes to several programs that relied on Title II, Part D technical assistance funding. Please share this information with your district’s Technology Coordinator.

Title II, Part D

For many years, Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC) has provided technical assistance for recipients of Title II, Part D formula and competitive grants. Region 10 ESC coordinated the highly successful Technology Applications Teacher Network (TATN) event in conjunction with the Texas Computer Education Association’s (TCEA) annual conference in Austin. For the past 11 years, the TATN event hosted educators at an all-day event of free professional development sessions taught by current practitioners. The event became a kickoff event for the TCEA conference. The Agency is currently in discussions with TCEA regarding the future of this event.

Region 10 ESC also developed, in cooperation with Region 4 ESC, the TATN website. Through this website, all 20 Texas education service centers share information, resources, and technology professional development opportunities with educators across the state. Effective September 1, 2011, this website will be maintained by the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Division of Instructional Materials and Educational Technology (IMET).

STaR Chart

Since 2006 Texas has utilized the Texas STaR Chart to help teachers, campuses, and districts determine their progress toward meeting the goals of the State Board of Education’s Long-Range Plan for Technology, as well as meeting the technology goals of their districts.

Since its inception, the STaR Chart system, the Teacher Chart, and the Campus Chart were housed at the Technology Planning and E-Rate Support Center (TPESC) at Region 12 ESC. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, the STaR Chart system will be moving into the agency’s Project Share system. Project Share is a global online learning community where educators collaborate, share resources, and showcase accomplishments.

Although the STaR Chart system is moving into Project Share, Texas educators should not notice any difference in the STaR Chart other than a new URL – www.starchart.epsilen.com. The STaR Chart has not changed for the upcoming school year, and STaR Chart support will be provided by the agency’s IMET division. Questions should be sent to starchart@tea.state.tx.us.

ePlan

For the upcoming year, districts will complete their ePlan the same way as in the past, and ePlan information will be available on the TEA website. Questions should be sent to eplan@tea.state.tx.us. To receive support by phone, Texas educators may call (512) 463-9400.

E-Rate

Since the E-Rate program began in 1998, Texas schools and libraries have received more than
$3 Billion in federal discount funding for telecommunication services, Internet access, basic maintenance, and internal connections. These discounts in Texas average more than a quarter of a billion dollars, or more than $231,700,300 per year. Under the E-Rate program, these discounted services mean schools and libraries can utilize these savings in other areas of their budgets.

Since 2004 the TEA, using technical assistance funding from Title II, Part D of NCLB, has provided support for the E-Rate program through the TPESC at Region 12 ESC.

As a result of the elimination of Title II, Part D funding, support and oversight of the program will be handled by TEA – including the function of Texas E-Rate Coordinator; interactions with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers the program for the FCC, including serving as intermediary between USAC and Texas public schools; maintaining an E-Rate listserv; providing National School Lunch Program (NSLP) data for applicants and USAC; statewide training; communications with the FCC and USAC Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) and school districts; and other questions that may arise concerning the program. If you have any questions about these changes, you may contact the IMET division at (512) 463-9400 or send questions to erate@tea.state.tx.us.

As a fee for service, Region 12 ESC will offer E-Rate consulting services including assistance with
E-Rate forms submittal.

These changes will be in place for the 2011-2012 school year. For questions, please contact the Instructional Materials and Educational Technology Division at (512) 463-9400 or via email at edtech@tea.state.tx.us.

Sincerely,

Anita Givens
Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

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