A Preliminary Analysis from the Integrated Studies of Educational
Technology U.S. Department of Education and Urban Institute (2000)
Disparities Disappeared
Historical disparities between poor and rich, rural, urban
and suburban schools have disappeared. Regardless of grade
level, wealth, and location, all schools are equally likely
to have access to the Internet. E-Rate funding heavily supported
schools where more than 50% of the students are eligible
for free or reduced price lunches. They comprise 25% of
the public school student population and received 60% of
the funds. More than 78,000 public schools (82%) received
about 84% of the E-Rate dollars. Approximately 5,000 private
schools received support.
Poorest Schools Not Applying
Despite outreach and opportunity, the poorest schools did
not apply. Perhaps they could not afford the last 10% required
to match the 90% discount rate. Over 80% of schools with
75% poor children applied for the E-Rate, but application
rates decline by 10 percentage points for those schools
with even higher poverty rates. Application rates among
the poorest schools increased from 71% to 79% from Year
1 to Year 2.
Spending E-Rate Funds
58% of the E-Rate funds in Years 1 and 2 were used for
internal connections. 34% of the E-Rate funds in Years 1
and 2 were used for telecommunication services. 8% of the
E-Rate funds in Years 1 and 2 were used for Internet access.
63% of public schools use dedicated line connections (which
includes some 56K speed lines).
Source: www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/ed_reform.html
