1. 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

2. 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.

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

4. Funding
$9,187,500 annually for five years, July 1, 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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, June 30, 2020;
July 1, June 30, 2021;
July 1, June 30, 2022; and
July 1, June 30, 2023

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

13. Additional mobile device grant information
Go to the DPI mobile device grant web pages:

14. Bridging the Homework Gapby
Helping Low-Income Families
Find Affordable Internet Access
Bill Herman, Broadband Consultant, DPI

15. 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

16. … 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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

26. Helping parents get find and use the Discount Finder
Set up an Internet Discount Finder kiosk
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

27. 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?

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