Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program What’s Next?

1. Ed Tech K-12 Voucher ProgramWhat’s Next? Patty MacIntyre, TechSETS Program ManagerJohn Vardanega, CDE Ed Tech Consultant CUE Palm Springs ~ March 7, 2009

2. Today’s Session • Quick overview of program guidelines • Updates: • News on “Pending” software • Increase in per-pupil allocation • Change in Approved Provider rules for conference approval • Second cy pres • “The BIG Three” (continued)

3. Today’s Session • Five Things You Should Do Right Now • Web sites: • California Dept. of Education • Settlement Claims Administrator • TechSETS • Q & A (Booth#531 in Exhibit Hall)

4. This is a court settlement!

5. Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program • The Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program resulted from the Settlement Agreement between California consumers and Microsoft Corporation. • 2/3 of the funds remaining after the consumer settlement has been satisfied are available for dissemination via vouchers to eligible K-12 schools.

6. Projected Funding Dates

7. K-12 Voucher Eligibility • ALL K-12 public schools at which at least 40% of the attending students are eligible to receive Free or Reduced Price Lunches through the National School Lunch Program. • ALL public high schools in California that serve students from eligible elementary, middle and junior high schools (Feeder School Provision).

8. K-12 Voucher Eligibility • Districts must have a current, state-approved technology plan. • Districts apply for the vouchers on behalf of their eligible schools. • State Special Schools, Direct-Funded Charter Schools, and County Offices of Education do not have to meet the state-approved technology requirement and apply on their own behalf.

9. K-12 Voucher Allocation • The October 2005 CBEDS data was used to determine official enrollment and Free and Reduced Price Lunch percentage for each eligible school during the first cy pres. • The initial per-pupil allocation is $50.80, which is expected to increase during 2009.

10. K-12 Voucher Allocation • The district’s allocation is based on the total enrollment at eligible schools. • Lead Education Agencies (LEAs) get to determine the amount of vouchers to be utilized at each school. • Vouchers may only be utilized at eligible schools.

11. Voucher Allocation by Type • 50% • 50% General Purpose Vouchers Specific Category SoftwareVouchers

12. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying hardware: • Any new desktop, laptop or tablet computer for any operating system • Peripheral devices, specifically printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards, and pointing devices (e.g., mouse, trackball, etc.) • Equipment* needed for networking and infrastructure (e.g., routers, servers, server cables, wireless network cards, or wireless access points) *Must primarily benefit eligible schools.

13. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying hardware: • Hardware for accessing the Internet through television sets and Internet access for such hardware for students’ homes • Non-custom assistive technology devices for use by students with special needs

14. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying software: • Any non-custom software titles (any platform), sold by any software publisher or vendor, that are designed for use on any qualifying hardware (includes SIS and ELAR software products that meet this criteria) • Non-custom software for students with special needs

15. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying Professional Development directed solely at: • Leadership development for school administrators in the use of educational technology to improve learning at the site or district • General curriculum development and instructional strategies that utilize educational technology to improve instruction

16. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for any qualifying Professional Development directed solely at: • Improvement of technology integration for any software title acquired through this program • Training in the use of any hardware or any software title acquired through this program • Training must be provided by Approved Providers and incorporate the use of educational technology.

17. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for IT Support Services, which are services that primarily involve: • Installation and maintenance of hardware procured through this program • Installation and maintenance of software procured through this program • Services must be provided by an Approved Provider.

18. General Purpose Vouchers • These vouchers may be redeemed for IT Staff Professional Development services: • Certification training for software and networking, provided by an Approved Provider

19. Specific Category Software Vouchers • These vouchers may only be redeemed for any non-custom software title from any publisher that falls into specific categories: • Operating system • Word processing • Spreadsheet • Presentation (continued)

20. Specific Category Software Vouchers • Desktop relational database • Oriented towards single users and typically residing on a standard personal computer • Web Authoring • Productivity Suite • Encyclopedia • Server software, including client access licenses

21. Ineligible Product Examples • Vouchers may not be redeemed for: • Videoconferencing equipment • Personal digital assistants and other hand-held devices • Cables, speakers, tape back-up or storage units, read/write devices (i.e., external hard drives, USB drives, CD/DVD drives, etc.), zip drives, memory, video or audio cards, motherboards and CPUs that are not included as part of the purchase of a computer • Video and audio tapes, CDs, or DVDs

22. Voucher Restrictions • Vouchers may supplement, but not supplant, state and/or federal program funds. • Vouchers may not be redeemed for the discounted or reimburse portion of a product and/or service (i.e., E-rate, AB 466, etc.) • Professional development and/or IT support services redemption may only be for those services provided by Approved Providers. http://www.edtechk12vp.com/approvedProviders.aspx

23. Voucher Redemption Issues • To ensure that the process goes smoothly, the following actions are strongly recommended: • Before purchasing goods or services, verify with the Settlement Claims Administrator that they are allowable (if there is any question regarding eligibility). • Be aware that vendors may believe that any of their services or products are allowable because they are on the Approved Provider list for Professional Development or IT services. This may not be the case.

24. Updated Timeline • 2009: • The parties will provide the CDE with an increased estimated allocation for the first cy pres. • The estimated voucher allocations will be recalculated and revised voucher award notifications will be sent to funded LEAs. • 2010: Second cy pres eligibility and allocation is determined and online RFA is posted. • September 25, 2012: Postmark deadline for the submission of voucher redemption forms

25. Updates As of February 28, 2009: • Voucher award letters totaling $243,443,344 have been mailed to districts and charter schools. • Reimbursement checks totaling $72,885,493 have been mailed to districts and charter schools.

26. Updates As of February 28, 2009: • 193 districts have spent all of their General Purpose Vouchers. • 66 districts have spent all of their Specific Category Software Vouchers. • 52 districts have spent all of both types of vouchers.

27. News About “Pending” Software • A number of software titles, including some web-based products, were recently moved from the “Pending” list to the “Eligible” list by the Settlement Claims Administrator. • SCA has now contacted all districts & charter schools with “Pending” inquiries.

28. Approved Providers: Conferences • Applies to conference providers: • The syllabus/program only needs to be approved one time by the CDE. • For future conferences that are “substantially similar” (i.e., an annual update or repeat of the same program), no new application is needed. • Email the new conference date and statement of similar format/content to the CDE.

29. Approved Providers: Conferences • Applies to conference providers: • Email the new conference date and statement of similar format/content to John Vardanega at the California Department of Education: jvardane@cde.ca.gov

30. Approved Providers: Conferences • Applies to conference providers: • If there is a question about whether the new conference is substantially similar, it is okay to submit a new Approved Provider application. • CDE reserves the right to request a syllabus or to otherwise review content to determine conference eligibility.

31. Conference Reimbursement • Districts and Charter Schools: • Must still provide information regarding the agenda or summary of content for conferences when applying for reimbursement • Are encouraged to contact the Settlement Claims Administrator to confirm conference eligibility prior to spending district funds.

32. The BIG Three Top 3 Reasons for Reimbursement Delays • Missing Vendor Price Certification • Statement on Academic Pricing • Failure to submit ORIGINAL Voucher Redemption Form and/or invoice/receipts • Unauthorized person has signed the Voucher Redemption form

33. 5 Things to Do Right Now • Apply to become an Approved Provider for IT and PD services. • Simple 2-page fax to CDE for each application • Application approval date must precede date of services. http://www.edtechk12vp.com/approvedproviders.aspx

34. 5 Things to Do Right Now 2) Update the list of people approved to sign the voucher redemption forms. • Notify the Settlement Claims Administrator if staffing has changed. • Change requests must come from the Superintendent or a current authorized signer.

35. 5 Things to Do Right Now 3) Confirm the eligibility of planned purchases by contacting the Settlement Claims Administrator. • The only way to guarantee full reimbursement on purchases is to obtain advance (written) confirmation of eligibility from the SCA. http://www.edtechk12vp.com/product.aspx

36. 5 Things to Do Right Now 4) Review and follow the Reimbursement Checklist to avoid payment delays. • Failure to submit required documentation will cause claims to be delayed or denied. http://www.edtechk12vp.com/voucher.aspx • See TechSETS PowerPoint: http://www.techsets.org/support/voucher.aspx

37. 5 Things to Do Right Now 5) Be aware of both Microsoft Settlements. • Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program • CA Gov’t. Entities Settlement http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/st/etvfaq.asp#ges

38. For More Information • Settlement Claims Administrator: • Voice: (800) 419-5286 • Email:ClaimsAdmin@EdTechK12VP.com • Web: http://www.edtechk12vp.com • California Department of Education K12V Contact: John Vardanega • Voice: (916) 323-2241 • Fax: (916) 323-5110 • Email: jvardane@cde.ca.gov • Web: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/st/etv.asp

39. For More Information • TechSETS K-12 Voucher page: • Web: http://www.techsets.org • Email:info@techsets.org • Regional CTAP Staff: Web: http://www.ctap.k12.ca.us (California Technology Assistance Project)

40. Quick Tour of theWeb Sites www.techsets.org CDE SCA Extras

41. QUESTIONS