Getting Kids Connected with The Personal Electronic Computing Devices Grant and The Internet Discount Finder Presentation for Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance Bill Herman, Broadband Consultant Department of Public Instruction October 28, 2018

The One Thing You Need to Know DPI mobile device grant web pages: Address: dpi.wi.gov/mobile_device_grant Everything that DPI knows about the grant is on these pages.

What is the “Mobile Device” grant? Grant purpose: to support and expand K-12 students’ use of mobile devices.

Funding $9,187,500 annually for five years, July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2023 Maximum of $125 per 9th grade student per school Recipients must match reimbursed amounts Generally, expenditures can support all K-12 students

Eligible items Mobile devices: to be used by only one student at a time. Software used by students via mobile devices Curriculum that can be accessed by students via mobile devices Professional development expenses, including training and coaching Trainees must be teachers, administrators, or pupil services staff Para-professionals and substitute teachers are not eligible trainees

Eligible mobile devices Chromebooks Laptop computers Tablets Phones capable of accessing the internet Any of the above, also equipped to access cellular networks Mobile access points (hotspots) Cellular service is not eligible for reimbursement, but can be provided as a match (see slide 13)

Who is eligible? Eligible schools: All Wisconsin schools with 9th grade students: Wisconsin public school districts District charter schools Independent charter schools Private schools Tribal schools

Matching funds: what is eligible? Examples of expenditures that can be used as matching funds: Computers and servers Network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, access points, and access point controllers Systems and consultation to support data privacy and security Online assessment expenses Data plans for hotspots and LTE enabled mobile devices Management systems such as learning management systems, mobile device management, monitoring, and filtering. Any of the items above can also be used as a match if not paid for by the grant.

A note about matching funds To satisfy the match requirement, likely all you will need to do is document purchases that you have already made.

Maximum Grant Amounts The maximum grant amount per school is $125 times the number of 9th grade students. For public schools, the statutes define 9th grade enrollment as prior year membership. The Department is required to use current year enrollment data for independent charter schools and private schools. Your maximum grant amount will be included in your application.

Grant period Districts will be reimbursed for all approved and documented expenditures made on or after July 1, 2018. Reimbursement will be received by June 30, 2019. The same schedule will hold for the remaining four years of the grant period: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020; July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021; July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022; and July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

Likely grant timeline Early January: Applications sent by email to every head of school district and private school. Mid-February: Application deadline Early March: Grant awards and reimbursement request forms sent by email. Mid-April: Reimbursement request deadline. By June 30: Reimbursements deposited in applicant bank accounts.

Additional mobile device grant information Go to the DPI mobile device grant web pages: https://dpi.wi.gov/mobile-device-grant

Bridging the Homework Gap by Helping Low-Income Families Find Affordable Internet Access Bill Herman, Broadband Consultant, DPI

1:1 is Great for Students ... Access the internet from home Do research from home Access web-based assignments from home Access Khan Academy from home Check your grades from home

… But Not as Great for Students Without WiFi at Home Access the internet from home Do research from home Access web-based assignments from home Access Khan Academy from home Check your grades from home

Digital Inequity in Wisconsin 20% of Wisconsin students do not have internet access at home. Affordability is the main reason why students, families, and residents do not have internet access at home. Sources: DPI 2018 Digital Learning Survey National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Discount Programs Address Digital Inequity Discounted internet service for low-income families is available in Wisconsin from: Comcast Charter Mediacom AT&T Sprint Discount programs: overview and links

Discount Programs Address Digital Inequity Discounts are as deep as 80%. Only small percentage of eligible residences have signed up for a discount program.

Discount Programs Address Digital Inequity Colored-in areas have provider discount programs. Areas in white do not have provider discount programs. 85% of residents live in colored-in area; have a provider discount available. Map courtesy of Wisconsin Public Services Commission

Local Phone Co-ops Some local phone co-ops now offer discounted access. As community members all co-ops have an interest in supporting access for everyone. Partnerships can be explored Map courtesy of Wisconsin Public Services Commission

Discount Programs Address Digital Inequity Residences without access to a provider discount program still have access to Lifeline. Via Lifeline they can get a free phone. A future presentation will cover Lifeline.

How to Find a Discount The Internet Discount Finder can help low-income households find a discount. It is simple to use -- people just need to know about it. Schools are ideally situated to help people learn about and use the Discount Finder The Internet Discount Finder is created and maintained by the Wisconsin Public Services Commission

The Internet Discount Finder The Internet Discount Finder is easy to use, and we encourage you to try it out after the presentation, to see how simple and powerful it is. Important note: you must type in a complete address, not just the name of a town.

What schools can do The internet discount finder can only help if people know about it. Schools and libraries are perfectly positioned to create awareness by: Promoting and explaining the Internet Discount Finder Showing it to families and residents who don’t have access Helping families use the Discount Finder to find their best discount Helping families get signed up with the provider they choose

Helping parents get find and use the Discount Finder Set up an Internet Discount Finder kiosk Email or message blast Establish staff experts to promote the Discount Finder throughout the year Parent-teacher conferences As part of 1:1 rollout District web site Post information in school offices Provide enrollment workshops

Discussion: setting up an enrollment workshop What staff training would be needed? How would you promote the workshops? What would be fair compensation, if money were available? How often and when would the workshops be provided? What challenges do you foresee? Is this worth doing? Other questions and ideas?

Internet Discount Finder Resources Sample Email Message to Families How to Set up a Kiosk Computer Discount Program Overviews and Links DPI Broadband website