Required Elements of a Technology Plan

To meet the requirements set out by US AC and the FCC, a technology plan must contain these four elements:

1. The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services.
2. The plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services.
3. The plan must include an assessment of the telecommunications services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.
4. The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

The approved plan should include a sufficient level of information to justify and validate the purpose of a Schools and Libraries Program funding request.  The plan should provide enough detail to support the program funding requests if reviewed by USAC.  During a Selective Review Information Request (SRIR) USAC will request a copy of the technology plan and the approved certification letter.  At this time, USAC may ask the applicant to indicate where the funding request services/purchases are covered in their plan. As a response to the SRIR detail an applicant will be asked to define the strategy for implementing the reviewed E-rate requests for that year, including any significant investment in technology prior to that funding year.