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From NEA ... A Good Day for Schools!E-Rate Dollars to Flow AgainAt the eleventh hour, just before this 108th Congress came to a close, the United States Senate unanimously approved legislation (HR 5419) to keep E-Rate funds flowing to schools and libraries. The E-Rate program has wired 99 percent of schools and 92 percent of classrooms to the Internet and ensured that students have the benefits of modern technology. In early August, the flow of E-Rate funds came to a screeching halt due to a government-wide accounting rule change that was implemented without thought of its impact on this hugely successful program. HR 5419 corrects that glitch for the next 12 months. NEA played an active role in an extraordinary coalition of education and library advocates, state and local governments, telecommunications companies, and community development advocates that brought about this important win for local schools, libraries and communities. The E-Rate program is the fourth largest source of federal funds to K-12 schools. Saving this program means dollars are freed up again from local school budgets for staff, textbooks, and other meaningful tools for students. |
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