Report to the North Carolina General Assembly : School Connectivity Initiative, SL 2007-323 (HB 1473), sec .7.28(d) |
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Public Schools of North Carolina State Board of Education Department of Public Instruction Report to the North Carolina General Assembly School Connectivity Initiative SL 2007-323 (HB 1473), SECTION 7.28.(d) Date Due: January 15, 2017 Report # 44 DPI Chronological Schedule, 2016-2017 2 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SBE VISION: Every public school student will graduate ready for post-secondary education and work, prepared to be a globally engaged and productive citizen. SBE MISSION: The State Board of Education will use its constitutional authority to lead and uphold the system of public education in North Carolina. WILLIAM COBEY Chair :: Chapel Hill – At-Large A.L. COLLINS Vice Chair :: Kernersville – Piedmont Triad Region DAN FOREST Lieutenant Governor :: Raleigh – Ex Officio DALE FOLWELL State Treasurer :: Raleigh – Ex Officio MARK JOHNSON Secretary to the Board :: Raleigh BECKY TAYLOR Greenville – Northeast Region REGINALD KENAN Rose Hill – Southeast Region AMY WHITE Garner – North Central Region OLIVIA OXENDINE Lumberton – Sandhills Region GREG ALCORN Salisbury – Southwest Region TODD CHASTEEN Blowing Rock – Northwest Region WAYNE MCDEVITT Asheville – Western Region ERIC DAVIS Charlotte – At-Large PATRICIA N. WILLOUGHBY Raleigh – At-Large NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Mark Johnson, State Superintendent 301 N. Wilmington Street :: Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2825 In compliance with federal law, the NC Department of Public Instruction administers all state-operated educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability, or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law. Inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination issues should be directed to: Dr. Rebecca Garland, Deputy State Superintendent 6368 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6368 :: Telephone: (919) 807-3200 :: Fax: (919) 807-3388 Visit us on the Web :: www.ncpublicschools.org M0116 3 SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE Legislative Update Submitted to: Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee Office of State Budget and Management State Chief Information Officer Fiscal Research Division Prepared by Connectivity and E-rate Services Section Technology Services Area North Carolina Department of Public Instruction 4 FOREWORD The School Connectivity Initiative (SCI) was created by Session Law 2007-323 SECTION 7.28.(d) as follows: SECTION 7.28.(b) As recommended in the Joint Report on Information Technology, February 2007, the State Board of Education shall contract with an entity that has the capacity of serving as the administrator of the School Connectivity Initiative and has demonstrated success in providing network services to education institutions in the State. The funds appropriated in this act shall be used to implement a plan approved by the State Board of Education to enhance the technology infrastructure for public schools that supports teaching and learning in the classrooms. The plan shall include the following components: (1) A business plan with timelines, clearly defined outcomes and an operational model including a governance structure, personnel, E-rate reimbursement, support services to LEA’s and schools and budget; (2) Assurances for a fair and open bidding and contracting process; (3) Technology assessment site survey template; (4) Documentation of how the technology will be used to enhance teaching in learning; (5) Documentation of how existing State-invested funds for technology are maximized to implement the school connectivity initiative; (6) The number, location and schedule of sites to be served in 2007-2008 and in 2008- 2009; and (7) Assurances that local school administrative units will upgrade internal networks in schools, provide technology tools, and support for teachers and students to use technology to improve teaching and learning. The NC State Board of Education approved the School Connectivity Initiative Implementation and Operating Plan on Thursday, August 2, 2007. The SCI program was managed through the NC ITS Enterprise Project Management Office supervising projects that gained initial EPMO approval in September 2007. Within the Implementation and Operating Plan were the following deliverables, all of which were completed in 2009: • All 115 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) connected to MCNC’s North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) • Establishment of Client Network Engineering Services for LEAs • Establishment of E-rate Filing Assistance Bureau • Development of a Technology Master Plan • Development of Governance and Funding Plans Each year since the inception of the SCI program, the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction produces a School Connectivity Initiative Report that summarizes the fiscal and functional performance of the program and provides insights into the work of the coming year. 5 “High-speed broadband connections to schools and advanced Wi-Fi inside classrooms have become essential tools for teachers and students. A major conclusion of the FCC's recent modernization of the E-rate program is that local jurisdictions benefit substantially from state-level assistance in the design, procurement, and ongoing support of this complex communications infrastructure. In our nationwide review of state approaches, we found North Carolina's model to be one of the most effective in the country. State-level support in North Carolina not only with matching financial resources but also purchasing and technical expertise from a dedicated professional staff at the state level has had a major positive impact for schools across North Carolina that stands out as a leading national example.” Jon Wilkins Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Former Managing Director Federal Communications Commission 6 BACKGROUND The School Connectivity Initiative launched in earnest with the publication of the Developing Regional Education Networks report in May 2006. In the ten years since the inception of the SCI program, NC public schools have procured nearly $800,000,000 in network services and infrastructure with State appropriations totaling $184,000,000 leveraged against over $600,000,000 in federal communications commission (FCC) E-rate discount funding. During the ten-year stretch, the telecommunications and computing markets have shifted dramatically, the regulatory environment has been in near constant flux, and the NC legislature has called for and invested in a digital transition in public schools. Perhaps most impressively, NC public schools Internet usage has grown from about 1000 Megabits per second (Mbps) in 2009 to over 98,000 Megabits per second at the writing of this report – with a similar growth forecast for the foreseeable future. As illustrated by the timeline above, the SCI program has exhibited extraordinary productivity and opportunistic adaptability over its ten-year history. Just a few highlights include: connecting all LEAs to the NC Research and Education Network using an opt-in approach; establishing the Certified Educational Chief Technology Officer (CeCTO) training program; developing, designing and implementing the NCEdCloud identity and access management service; partnering with MCNC and the Golden Leaf Foundation to bring competitive fiber connectivity to rural NC schools and libraries; and, adapting to the NC Digital Learning Plan, the FCC E-rate modernization order, and the growth of 1:1 programs fueled by the release of inexpensive computing devices. While the SCI team has accomplished much in its first decade, there are many opportunities on the horizon. SCI leadership has initiated SCI 2.0 to establish the priorities and framework for school connectivity innovation and support moving forward. The balance of this report provides a summary of 2016 accomplishments, a financial summary, capacity and usage summary, considerations for 2017, and appendices containing detailed supporting data. 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 May 2006 Developing Regional Educa1on Networks All 115 LEAs connected to NCREN May 2009 June 2014 First E-rate moderniza1on order MCNC completes final phase of BTOP-GLF fiber expansion August 2013 NC Digital Learning Plan published. NC legislature adds $12M [R] to SCI. September 2015 November 2010 Inaugural class of 34 CeCTO students graduate NC Legislature Funds SCI with $12M [R] July 2007 February 2012 NC Educa1on Cloud Iden1ty and Access Management plan published August 2008 NC Legislature adds $10M [R] for a total of $22M [R] November 2016 SCI 2.0 launch Google introduces Chromebook May 2011 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The School Connectivity Initiative (SCI) continues to deliver high quality Internet access, client network engineering, Identity services, E-rate support and funding that benefit all NC public schools. Pursuant to the Appropriations Act of 2015 (S.L. 2015-241), the 2016-17 SCI budget is $31.9M. Major calendar year 2016 SCI accomplishments include: - Upgraded Internet access to 46 LEAs and 100 charter schools – adding over 40Gbps of aggregate Internet capacity; - Connected 16 new charter schools to the NC Research and Education Network (NCREN); - Provided firewall services to 75 LEAs and 95 Charter Schools; - Provided web security (Internet filtering) services to 79 LEAs and 92 Charter Schools - Supported 51 LEAs and 40 charter schools with client network engineering (CNE) support services, through 148 total CNE engagements (91 LEA and 57 charter school); - Continued to focus on high-quality, cost-effective training for public K-12 network administrators in North Carolina. Part of the professional development model is to contract with professional trainers and industry experts for three to five-day intensive training institutes. In 2016 this included a wireless certification course, and as a result, twenty LEA and charter school technology personnel received a highly regarded Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification; - Managed a wireless infrastructure and services procurement supporting over $55M in purchases for 72 LEAs and 25 charter schools. - Issuing (in December 2016) a request for proposals soliciting new pricing for Internet access services. Supporting North Carolina’s Digital Learning Plan Reliable and consistent network access at the classroom and individual device level is imperative to supporting digital-age learning environments in our public schools. In the initial eight years of the SCI, the focus was on high performance and highly available Internet access delivered to the district and to school buildings. The resulting operating and support models for connectivity to the school serve students and educators well. The focus in the most recent two years has shifted to providing similar reliability and performance inside of the school. The SCI team has worked with LEAs and charter schools to upgrade classroom connectivity, targeting summer of 2018 to have all schools and classrooms served with sustainable digital-ready school networks. In 2015 and 2016, NC LEAs and charter schools have invested nearly $98M in internal school infrastructure and services, supported by the SCI program and requiring only $14M in appropriated State funds – with the remaining $84M covered by E-rate ($75M) and USED RttT funds ($9M). The 2016-17 legislative expansion of SCI funding by $12M recurring is imperative to sustaining reliable NC school networks. Optimizing School Connectivity Efficiency and Return On Investment While the SCI planning, design, and deployment has focused on upgrading classroom connectivity, we continue to emphasize efficiency and return on investment. Efficiency of operation will always be important for the SCI program as usage continues to grow at a phenomenal pace – and though connectivity service costs continue to drop, the increase in usage and the addition of at least a dozen charter schools per year can easily make for a steeper rise than can be accounted for with cost decreases. Further, through modeling and forecasting we are developing approaches to optimizing E-rate returns and to inform district fiber connectivity build-versus-buy decisions. 8 The School Connectivity Initiative delivers services to LEAs and charter schools alike that address pressing needs in an ever-changing environment that moves at Internet speed. “I wish to take a moment to share how important the partnership between Avery County Schools and MCNC is to our students, staff and community. In the summer of 2011, Avery County Schools was able to enter into a district-wide 1:1 instructional project that provided an iPad for every child and staff person in grades K-5 and a MacBook for every student and staff person in grades 6-12. Our Internet utilization immediately went from less than 1000 computers used occasionally throughout the school day to over 2500 devices in use consistently all day long. The connectivity afforded to us by NCREN gives our school community stable, scalable and effective access to content, services and other resources. The funding provided through the NC Connectivity Project that offsets the unfunded E-rate discounted costs of connectivity lets us apply local funds toward other critical needs and helps us work toward our vision of being a national model of education. We are very grateful for the support and service provided by MCNC.” Dennis Brown Chief Technology Officer Avery County Schools “This <wireless certification> class was absolutely incredible. It's probably the best class I've ever gone through where I learned so much daily that directly impacts my day-to-day job role and scope at work. The instructor was incredible. I really appreciate him teaching it from the perspective of teaching us a technology first, learning something, then the test second. Even with that style he prepared us so well for the test so it's a win-win. I just can't say enough good things about this experience.” Jeremy Fisher Network Administrator Harnett County Schools “My work with the CNE team began in Spring 2015 with a request for a network assessment. Based on the findings in the report, we drew up plans for a new network, priced out various platforms from different vendors, and leveraged E-rate 2.0 monies for the eventual purchase. Our work culminated in Summer 2016 with the installation and configuration of the new network, which the CNE team helped with, going so far as to help physically mount switches and run cabling in the network closets. Over those 15 or so months, the CNE team consistently provided a high level of service, and the resulting product is of very high quality.” Evan Menchini Technology Director Voyager Academy 9 PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW Financial Summary For 2016 the School Connectivity Initiative is a $125M program supported with legislative funding of $31.9M leveraged against FCC E-rate program reimbursements in excess of $93M. The table below summarizes SCI costs and related State funding and FCC E-rate reimbursements. Most SCI expenses are eligible for FCC E-rate discounts. E-rate eligible expenses are grouped into Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 expenses include high-speed fiber optic1 connections to schools and districts and Internet bandwidth charges. Category 2 expenses include wireless and wired infrastructure and services deployed inside schools to connect classrooms to the Internet. For 2016, the total cost of E-rate eligible expenses is in excess of $121M with E-rate discounts of over $93M leaving a State share of $28.1M. The $3.8M balance of SCI expenses comprises non-E-rate eligible services including identity and access management, client network engineering support, and program administration. Specifically, SCI program expenses include the following. 1. Category 1 School Fiber Connections – Most LEAs contract with private providers to connect their schools into a district network via high-speed fiber optic connections2. Private providers include Time Warner Cable, AT&T, CenturyLink, Broadplex, Conterra, and others. These school connections are eligible for FCC E-rate discounts of up to 90%. The SCI provides support and training in acquiring school connections and provides funding allotments to cover the non-discount share of costs to all NC LEAs. NCDPI calculates allocations based on actual contracts and invoices and delivers funding via PRC 073. Since the inception of the SCI, funding totals 1 Over 99% the 2694 schools in North Carolina are connected via fiber optic connection – the remaining 22 schools are connected via a high speed wireless solution, with 9 of those slated to transition to fiber in the coming year. 2 A dozen NC LEAs connect schools via fiber that is owned and managed by either the school system or a community collaborative. SCI provides funding allotments to these districts based on actual maintenance costs. Total Cost E-rate Share State Share Category 1 School Fiber Connec3ons $43.2M $34.0M $9.2M Category 1 Consor3um Internet - LEAs $17.7M $14.2M $3.5M Category 1 Consor3um Internet - charters $3.3M $2.1M $1.2M Category 2 Classroom Connec3ons $57.5M $43.3M $14.2M E-rate Eligible Totals $121.7M $93.6M $28.1M Iden3ty and Access Management $1.5M - $1.5M Client Network Engineering $1.6M - $1.6M Program Administra3on – NCDPI and FI $0.7M - $0.7M Non E-rate Eligible Totals $3.8M - $3.8M Grand Totals $125.5M $93.6M $31.9M 10 have remained in the $9M to $10M range – even with substantial upgrades to school bandwidth and services each year. 2. Category 1 Consortium School Internet – Core to the SCI is that all NC LEAs and charter schools have access to reliable high-speed Internet access via the NC Research and Education Network (NCREN) managed by MCNC – the same network that provides Internet access to the UNC system universities, NC community colleges, most NC private colleges and universities, and all of State government. Internet connections are monitored and upgraded on demand as usage exceeds 60% of available capacity. Charter schools have the option of either receiving a per ADM allotment via PRC 0363 or receiving State-funded Internet access. 3. Category 2 Classroom Connections – In Spring of 2016, NC LEAs and charter schools procured over $57M in classroom connectivity infrastructure and services; over $55M of those procurements used contracts established by NCDPI in 2015. The SCI provides support and training in acquiring internal school infrastructure and provides funding allotments to cover the non-discount share of costs to participating LEAs and charter schools. NCDPI calculates allocations based on actual contracts and invoices and delivers funding via PRC 073 to LEAs and PRC 036 to charter schools. 4. Identity and Access Management – The 2015 appropriations act expanded the SCI budget by $12M annually effective FY2016-17. Identity and access management (IAM) services are included in the expansion budget. NCEdCloud IAM services provide for a single user ID and password for students, faculty and staff to access network accessible content. IAM services automate the provisioning and management of nearly 2.5 million user accounts and the integration of those accounts with cloud-based applications and services. NCDPI manages the NCEdCloud IAM service, including a $1.5M per year contract with an identity services provider. 5. Client Network Engineering (CNE) – MCNC provides CNE services under contract to NCDPI. LEAs and charter schools engage MCNC for high-level troubleshooting, network design consultation, and related training services. NCDPI also engages MCNC directly through the CNE contract to provide specific network and Cloud services management functions for LEAs and charter schools. MCNC bills quarterly for actual hours serving districts and charter schools. The CNE contract allows for up to $1.6M in billings for the 2016 fiscal year. 6. Program Administration – SCI program administration includes NCDPI school connectivity staff, Friday institute contract support, and related travel supplies and materials costs. Six NCDPI staff members provide technical consulting, E-rate training, and related SCI support at a combined salary expense of $409,0004. A Friday Institute contract provides for planning, design, forecasting, modeling, and documentation support at an annual cost of $215,000. It is notable that administrative costs associated with managing the SCI account for less than 2.5% of the $31.9M State appropriation and 0.6% of the $125M total annual cost of services. 3 PRC 036 allotments are calculated based on the per ADM sum of CAT1 fiber connections and consortium Internet in the host county/LEA. 4 SCI provisional language allows for up to 8 FTE and $1M. See Appendix C – Connectivity Staff Salary Report for details. 11 The SCI program has substantial funding, budgeting, procurement and oversight elements that are imperative to the delivery of reliable connectivity to public schools. It is through the Client Network Engineering and E-rate services that many LEA and charter school staff interact with the SCI program. “As the new CTO in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, getting a third-party assessment of our district's network health was a fundamental need in being able to guarantee the digital services that are indispensable to teaching and learning today. I knew from previous experience that comprehensive third-party assessments can be prohibitively expensive. I learned about the offerings of MCNC and how they could help. MCNC was incredibly quick to respond for an informal meeting to discuss our needs and in establishing a timeline for our network assessment. The assessment we received was incredibly detailed, and is being supported by the engineer who completed the assessment, as he is able to come back and help us develop a project plan to realize the report's recommendations. To have access to this level of expertise is critical in helping us ensure we provide a safe and secure network for our staff, students, and parents.” Daniel Curry-Corcoran, PhD Chief Technology Officer Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools “Lake Norman Charter launched a full 1:1 technology initiative (1:World) in the 2014-2015 school year that has positively and significantly changed how our students synthesize, collaborate and creatively in present their work. Simply put, would not have been possible without MCNC’s support and Internet connection. As we prepared to move forward with the program, MCNC provided frequent consultation and when needed, an on-site engineer to help us to prepare our infrastructure. They have also continued to help monitor our usage needs and provided more capacity as the students & staff expanded their usage. We are grateful to have had MCNC’s support to help us to make this transformational shift at LNC!” Shannon Stein Superintendent Lake Norman Charter School “Jeannene Hurley <Lead E-rate Analyst, NCDPI> provides an invaluable service to the LEAs across North Carolina, training, assisting and generally informing districts on navigating the E-Rate program for schools and libraries. At Watauga County Schools, we have relied heavily on her training and guidance in order to comply with the many aspects of E-Rate filing, which is so critical to the success of the technology in our schools. The importance of the commitment that North Carolina has made to the E-Rate consultants supporting our districts and ultimately our students cannot be overstated.” Nancy Zeiss Director of Technology Services Watauga County Schools 12 Capacity and Usage Summary Internet usage continues to grow as districts add more devices, allow students to bring their own devices, and employ more online resources for instruction. MCNC bills the State for Internet Bandwidth each month based on a contracted bandwidth level for each district and charter school. There are ten bandwidth levels ranging from 100 Mbps to 15,000 Mbps (i.e., 15 Gbps). As LEAs and charter schools exceed 60% usage measured against the bandwidth service level, the SCI team initiates upgrades to the next highest service level. The chart above illustrates the CY2016 month-over-month growth in contracted Internet bandwidth. The monitoring and upgrade process ensures that schools have access to enough Internet capacity to support growth in devices and applications while at the same time protecting against expending funds for over-provisioning. Aggregate contracted bandwidth grew from 140 Gbps in December 2014 to over 171 Gbps in November of 2015. Each bar shows the bandwidth contribution in each of the ten service tiers. The SCI team regularly works with the service provider community to add new service tier options to accommodate growth as efficiently as possible. To that end, a 15 Gbps tier was added in December 2015 for Wake County Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, both of whom transitioned from then current 10,000 Mbps services. The SCI team manages the scheduling of upgrades to avoid adding new services and expense during the summer months. As illustrated in the chart below, only two LEAs remain at the lowest 100 Mbps service tier, while 66 LEAs enjoy at least 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) of Internet capacity – with those 66 LEAs representing nearly ninety percent of the students. 13 Aggregate bandwidth usage continued the trend of phenomenal year-over-year growth in calendar year 2016. All told, K12 is the largest single user of MCNC’s NCREN backbone, contributing double the traffic of the UNC system, the independent colleges and universities, and the community college system, combined. MCNC’s network continues to perform exceedingly well – maintaining high availability and low delay. Furthermore, MCNC peering, commodity offload, and caching solutions keep content close to the users and keep costs in check – even as usage doubles year over year. 14 The graph above plots contracted bandwidth against peak daily 95th percentile utilization and per student utilization over the most recent three years. Peak daily 95th percentile utilization represents the aggregate peak day for each month while per student utilization represents the monthly average across all districts. Tracking both peak and average informs decisions related to defining enough bandwidth and enough headroom. Peak daily 95th percentile utilization for November 2016 is 121 Gbps while per student utilization is 82 Gbps. A year ago peak was 91 Gbps and average per student utilization was 61 Gbps. Internal Connections Summary Session Law 2015-241 expanded SCI funding to support the sustainability of internal school connections – adding $2M in 2015-16 and $12M recurring in 2016-17. During 2015, the SCI team established a dozen contracts for wireless and wired network equipment and related services. In 2016 LEAs wrote purchase orders against these SCI contracts totaling over $55M. The table below summarizes 2016 E-rate category 2 internal connections procurements by discount percentage. Most NC LEAs receive 80% discounts on E-rate eligible internal connections products and services – accounting for $35M of the $55.6M in 2016 procurements. NC public schools requested $41.8M in E-rate funding for an aggregate discount rate of 75%. With an investment of over $42M in 2015 and $55M in 2016, the SCI program has made substantial progress in the provision of digital-ready classrooms in NC public schools. According to the 2016 Digital Learning and Media Inventory (DLMI) data, 70% of NC schools report at least one wireless access point per classroom – one indicator of digital readiness. At the current upgrade and installation pace, the target is to have all NC schools at the one access point per classroom standard by June 30, 2018. It is notable that more than 72% of charter schools responding to the DLMI survey report less than one access point per classroom. Due to variations in charter school facilities and class size, as compared to traditional public school counterparts, access point counts are a less reliable indicator of digital learning readiness. Moreover, tracking investments in infrastructure and services provides a limited view of readiness related to classroom access. There are many operational elements of internal school level infrastructure and services that are not easily measured in a comprehensive manner. It will be important to understand these operational considerations in order to have a more accurate picture of actual digital readiness. E-Rate Discount % Total Contract Cost E-Rate Funding Request Number of LEAs % of Total E-Rate Commitments % of LEAs 85 $4,501,558 $3,826,324 24 9.2% 24% 80 $35,750,928 $28,600,742 42 68.5% 43% 70 $2,479,172 $1,735,420 4 4.2% 4% 60 $12,111,815 $7,267,089 13 17.4% 13% 50 $384,802 $192,401 6 0.5% 6% 40 $389,645 $155,858 8 0.4% 8% 20 $20,160 $4,032 1 0.0% 1% Total $55,638,080 $41,781,867 98 15 16 CONSIDERATIONS FOR 2017 Classroom connectivity performance monitoring Explore the use of network sensors and applications that can be used by school and district technology staff and teachers in the classroom to measure school Wi-Fi performance at specific times, such as before standardized tests or when streaming video performance is poor. Efficiency in procurement of school fiber connections Investigate regional convenience contracts for external school connectivity services that include dark fiber options to increase competition. Consider making PRC funding tied to efficiency, similarly to how transportation is funded. Firewall and web security funding Increase funding for web filtering, firewall services and other security and privacy measures that may be deemed prudent in order to mitigate network risks. Some of these services were previously federally funded, but they are no longer eligible for E-rate funding after the changes made to the program in 2015. Procurement Policy Investigate procurement provision that allows DPI to establish contracts for LEAs to include libraries and any other State entity that is eligible for E-rate. Modify that statute (SL 2013-360 Section 7.6) so that the contracts bid from the University (or specifically NCSU) can be used by an LEA or library. SCI 2.0 With the expansion of the SCI budget and scope, coupled with changes in the marketplace and in E-rate rules, the SCI team will be reshaping the SCI program during calendar year 2017. The reshaping will include: • Establishing school fiber build and wide area network procurement guidelines; • Establishing fair and efficient allotment strategies for internal connection funding; • Developing a strategy for addressing the growing issue of Charter School bandwidth costing disproportionately higher per student as compared to LEAs; • Developing strategies for more granular monitoring – including content and application usage statistics; 17 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION LEA and charter school connectivity allocation data can be found at the link below. http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/connectivity/links/funding/ NC Digital Learning Plan documents including the 2015 Detailed and Summary reports, the wireless infrastructure survey, and wireless infrastructure RFP can be found at the links below. http://ncdlplan.fi.ncsu.edu/findings-and-recommendations/technology-infrastructure-and-devices/ http://ncdlplan.fi.ncsu.edu/category/publications/ An interactive map that illustrates LEA and charter school aggregate and per student network utilization statistics can be found at the link below. https://www.mcnc.org/ncren/portal/reporting/ncren_utilization_map A data dashboard presenting connectivity usage data and related statistics can be found at the link below. http://friday.institute/scireport The balance of this report includes supporting data as follows. APPENDIX DATA A 2016 PRC 073 Category 1 school connection allotments by LEA B 2016 PRC 160 Category 2 school infrastructure allotments by LEA and charter school C 2016 PRC 036 allotments by Charter School D The NCDPI connectivity staff salary report E North Carolina E-rate funding history report 18 APPENDIX A - 2016 LEA PRC 073 ALLOTMENTS These are the allotments for the E-rate Category 1 LEA school connections. Specifically, LEAs requested E-rate funds during spring of 2015 with service funding year between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. PRC 073 allotments distributed during calendar year 2016 to cover non-E-rate costs for eligible school connections. In total $8,568,457 was allotted and leveraged against $43,986,249 in committed E-rate funding. LEA LEA Name PRC 073 10 Alamance-Burlington $85,032 20 Alexander County $29,707 30 Alleghany County $30,370 40 Anson County $22,332 50 Ashe County $36,960 761 Asheboro City $22,243 111 Asheville City $52,075 60 Avery County $19,819 70 Beaufort County $39,943 80 Bertie County $25,024 90 Bladen County $50,667 100 Brunswick County $78,201 110 Buncombe County $119,907 120 Burke County $85,224 130 Cabarrus County $230,597 140 Caldwell County $88,375 150 Camden County $21,725 160 Carteret County $121,344 170 Caswell County $11,905 180 Catawba County $100,224 681 Chapel Hill-Carrboro $43,308 190 Chatham County $50,453 200 Cherokee County $26,827 210 Chowan County $31,351 220 Clay County $10,800 230 Cleveland County $76,080 821 Clinton City $24,000 240 Columbus County $62,891 250 Craven County $53,539 260 Cumberland County $265,941 270 Currituck County $46,379 19 280 Dare County $50,314 290 Davidson County $147,617 300 Davie County $68,607 310 Duplin County $38,442 320 Durham Public $143,916 330 Edgecombe County $18,618 861 Elkin City $7,000 340 Forsyth County $231,360 350 Franklin County $76,080 360 Gaston County $156,216 370 Gates County $16,042 380 Graham County $3,000 390 Granville County $54,715 400 Greene County $21,034 410 Guilford County $372,960 420 Halifax County $52,150 430 Harnett County $183,291 440 Haywood County $75,816 450 Henderson County $78,003 460 Hertford County $12,570 181 Hickory City $50,965 470 Hoke County $54,878 480 Hyde County $4,169 490 Iredell County $482,266 500 Jackson County $17,700 510 Johnston County $111,960 520 Jones County $11,977 132 Kannapolis City $22,618 530 Lee County $63,118 540 Lenoir County $43,210 291 Lexington City $12,355 550 Lincoln County $70,941 560 Macon County $64,500 570 Madison County $8,880 580 Martin County $35,053 590 McDowell County $42,828 600 Mecklenburg County $324,384 610 Mitchell County $17,429 620 Montgomery County $16,908 20 630 Moore County $89,712 491 Mooresville City $11,176 862 Mount Airy City $20,929 640 Nash-Rocky Mount $18,919 650 New Hanover County $175,190 182 Newton-Conover $7,312 660 Northampton County $9,951 670 Onslow County $275,588 680 Orange County $70,656 690 Pamlico County $10,000 700 Pasquotank County $48,791 710 Pender County $75,804 720 Perquimans County $21,040 730 Person County $37,469 740 Pitt County $172,440 750 Polk County $10,639 760 Randolph County $106,845 770 Richmond County $33,992 421 Roanoke Rapids City $25,486 780 Robeson County $64,200 790 Rockingham County $125,236 800 Rowan-Salisbury $150,406 810 Rutherford County $14,185 820 Sampson County $29,400 830 Scotland County $36,825 840 Stanly County $91,446 850 Stokes County $94,204 860 Surry County $41,805 870 Swain County $15,000 292 Thomasville City $11,635 880 Transylvania County $18,336 890 Tyrrell County $3,000 900 Union County $427,315 910 Vance County $47,698 920 Wake County $578,280 930 Warren County $28,810 940 Washington County $15,160 950 Watauga County $65,160 960 Wayne County $106,981 21 422 Weldon City $8,682 241 Whiteville City $5,000 970 Wilkes County $22,380 980 Wilson County $59,064 990 Yadkin County $44,945 995 Yancey County $14,232 Total $8,568,457 22 APPENDIX B – 2016 PRC 160 ALLOTMENTS These are the allotments for the E-rate Category 2 infrastructure procurements. Specifically, LEAs and charter schools requested E-rate funds during spring of 2015, purchased equipment and services using NCDPI-managed contracts, and received PRC 160 allotments for costs not covered by E-rate during 2016. In total, $9,192,844 was allotted and leveraged against $35,493,334 in E-rate funds. All PRC 160 distributions were paid using Federal Race to the Top (RttT) grant funds. LEA Number LEA/Charter Name PRC 160 10 ALAMANCE-BURLINGTON SCH DIST $343,327 20 ALEXANDER COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $135,621 69A ARAPAHOE CHARTER SCHOOL $18,098 50 ASHE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $70,577 761 ASHEBORO CITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT $62,803 111 ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT $47,368 70 BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $145,926 80 BERTIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $20,953 90 BLADEN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $123,557 180 CATAWBA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $301,619 200 CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $67,252 230 CLEVELAND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $103,344 821 CLINTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT $186,245 240 COLUMBUS COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $294,522 270 CURRITUCK COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $193,877 290 DAVIDSON COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $167,086 300 DAVIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $41,956 310 DUPLIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $127,892 700 ELIZABETH CITY-PASQUOTANK PUBLIC SCHOOLS $208,544 861 ELKIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT $41,514 360 GASTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $16,500 370 GATES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $43,151 380 GRAHAM COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $37,095 390 GRANVILLE COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $166,913 400 GREENE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $17,254 440 HAYWOOD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $94,970 91B Henderson Collegiate $10,090 450 HENDERSON COUNTY PUB SCH DIST $380,390 181 HICKORY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT $73,137 470 HOKE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $224,015 480 HYDE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $89,820 500 JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $97,661 23 520 JONES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $16,509 132 KANNAPOLIS CITY SCHOOL DIST $88,728 530 LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS $8,342 540 LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS $20,597 291 LEXINGTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT $41,984 560 MACON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $119,006 570 MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $61,216 590 MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $27,997 620 MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $37,299 862 MOUNT AIRY CITY SCHOOL DIST $31,689 640 NASH-ROCKY MOUNT SCHOOL DIST $201,207 182 NEWTON-CONOVER CITY SCH DIST $118,959 660 NORTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $37,296 720 PERQUIMANS COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $93,014 740 PITT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $453,545 760 RANDOLPH COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $521,800 770 RICHMOND COUNTY SCHOOL DIST $128,463 780 ROBESON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS $139,597 790 ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS $366,833 810 RUTHERFORD CO SCHOOL DISTRICT $210,128 820 SAMPSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $68,102 850 STOKES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $51,440 292 THOMASVILLE CITY SCHOOL DIST $44,606 880 TRANSYLVANIA CO SCH DISTRICT $66,279 890 TYRRELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $126,457 910 VANCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $273,602 970 WILKES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $154,306 980 WILSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $275,551 340 WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH CO S D $1,272,483 990 YADKIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $132,023 995 YANCEY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT $50,709 Total PRC 160 Allotments $9,192,844 24 APPENDIX C – 2016 CHARTER PRC 036 ALLOTMENTS Charter schools may choose to receive a centrally funded Internet connection or a PRC 036 allotment that is calculated based on the SCI per ADM benefit to their home LEA. These are the 2016 PRC 036 allotments for participating charter schools. Charter Name PRC 036 Academy of Moore $5,000 A.C.E. Academy $5,000 Anderson Creek Club Charter School $6,000 Arts Based School $5,000 Bethany Community Middle $5,000 Brevard Academy $14,000 Cabarrus Charter Academy $5,000 Cardinal Charter $5,000 Carter Community $6,000 Charlotte Lab $5,000 CIS Academy $5,000 Clover Garden $5,000 Crosscreek Charter $6,000 Dillard Academy $5,000 Dynamic Community Charter $5,000 East Wake Academy $5,000 Entrepreneur High School $5,000 Envision Science Academy $5,000 Evergreen Community Charter $5,000 Excelsior Classical $5,000 Exploris School $5,000 Falls Lake Academy $10,000 Flemington Academy $6,000 Forsyth Academy $5,000 Gaston College Preparatory $6,000 Grandfather Academy $12,000 Gray Stone Day School $6,000 Greensboro Academy $5,000 Healthy Start Academy Charter $6,000 Henderson Collegiate $5,000 Hope Charter Leadership Academy (Formerly Hope Elementary) $5,000 Ignite $5,000 Invest Collegiate Transform $5,000 Island Montessori $5,000 Kennedy School $5,000 KIPP Halifax College Preparatory $6,000 KIPP: Charlotte $5,000 KIPP: Durham Preparatory $5,000 Langtree Charter Academy $5,000 25 Learning Center $17,000 Longleaf School of the Arts $5,000 Maureen Joy Charter $6,000 Millennium Charter Academy $6,000 PACE Academy $5,000 Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy $6,000 PAVE SE Raleigh $5,000 Phoenix Academy $5,000 Pinnacle Classical Academy $5,000 Pioneer Springs Community School $5,000 PreEminent Charter $5,000 Queen's Grant Community $5,000 Quest Academy $5,000 Reaching All Minds Academy $6,000 Research Triangle Charter Academy $6,000 Sallie B. Howard $6,000 Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School (STARS) $6,000 Shining Rock Classical $5,000 South Brunswick Charter School $5,000 STEM Education for a Global Society Academy (SEGS) $5,000 Summerfield Charter Academy $5,000 Summit Charter $20,000 The Academy of Moore County $5,000 The Capitol Encore Academy $5,000 The Carter G. Woodson School of Challenge $5,000 The Central Park School for Children $5,000 The Children's Village Academy $5,000 The College Preparatory and Leadership Academy of High Point $5,000 The Community Charter $5,000 The Expedition School $5,000 The Franklin Academy $5,000 The Franklin School of Innovation $5,000 The Hawbridge School $5,000 The Institute for the Development of Young Leaders (IDYL) $5,000 The Mountain Community $5,000 The New Dimensions $5,000 The North Carolina Leadership Academy $5,000 Tiller School $5,000 Vance Charter $5,000 VERITAS Community $5,000 Wake Forest Charter Academy $5,000 Wilmington Preparatory Academy $5,000 Winterville Charter Academy $5,000 Youngsville Academy $5,000 Total PRC 036 $478,000 26 APPENDIX D - CONNECTIVITY STAFF SALARY REPORT The following are NCDPI staff paid from School Connectivity Initiative funding and their respective salaries. Title of Position and Description of Duties Salary Lead Connectivity and E-Rate Analyst: provides LEA/Charter School Technical Consulting, Strategic Planning, Project Management $87,943 Lead E-Rate Analyst: provides LEA/Charter School Technical Consulting, Strategic Planning $76,506 E-Rate Program Administrator: provides E-rate Education and Consultation Services $72,726 E-Rate Program Administrator: provides E-rate Education and Consultation Services $64,265 Education Consultant II: Assists with Digital Teaching and Learning Integration $67,420 Technology Support Center Analyst: Provides help desk support for SCI related calls $40,662 Total $409,522 27 APPENDIX E – NORTH CAROLINA E-RATE FUNDING HISTORY REPORT The following report run in October 2016 shows North Carolina public school E-rate funding requests, the total pre-discount amount for all requested services, the amount of E-rate funding being requested, the amount of funding ultimately committed by the FCC, the amount of funding disbursed, and the utilization of funds (disbursed/committed). Note that there are still disbursements outstanding for 2015 – including over $10M for consortium Internet. For 2016, the vast majority of requests have not yet been approved though the expectation is that on the order of 97% of what is requested will be committed. Year Requests Pre-Discount Requested Committed Disbursed Utilization % 2016 1,362 $143,294,447 $101,618,087 $28,636,167 $1,710,870 6% 2015 1,799 $148,550,545 $112,782,073 $108,436,609 $83,720,376 77% 2014 1,149 $130,282,860 $103,576,765 $68,505,830 $60,452,021 88% 2013 1,090 $128,061,575 $102,983,843 $67,257,466 $60,403,671 90% 2012 1,141 $140,959,571 $112,784,516 $80,088,802 $71,461,732 89% 2011 1,282 $128,875,656 $103,233,329 $71,388,019 $63,843,598 89% 2010 1,262 $109,507,564 $85,942,335 $78,504,887 $66,345,445 85% 2009 1,165 $98,312,963 $75,294,273 $61,405,999 $52,103,213 85% 2008 1,258 $91,746,583 $70,282,085 $57,091,132 $50,501,836 88% 2007 1,733 $100,873,061 $77,535,432 $58,250,860 $49,861,383 86% 2006 1,403 $110,262,568 $85,353,133 $47,406,255 $40,360,361 85% 2005 2,355 $96,196,207 $72,049,708 $51,008,937 $43,963,129 86% 2004 2,292 $78,661,600 $57,973,923 $37,480,433 $30,336,639 81% 2003 2,076 $97,322,227 $75,814,000 $45,339,691 $37,042,927 82% 2002 1,946 $79,663,215 $62,291,488 $47,968,216 $39,497,438 82% 2001 2,223 $61,576,928 $44,222,112 $20,166,017 $16,038,416 80% 2000 2,217 $60,099,851 $41,708,939 $20,915,884 $17,740,889 85% 1999 1,845 $48,447,701 $33,670,538 $28,605,610 $24,649,511 86% 1998 3,041 $44,388,023 $28,969,621 $21,511,196 $17,384,524 81% 32,639 $1,897,083,144 $1,448,086,200 $999,968,009 $827,417,980
Object Description
Description
Title | Report to the North Carolina General Assembly : School Connectivity Initiative, SL 2007-323 (HB 1473), sec.7.28(d) |
Other Title | School Connectivity Initiative, SL 2007-323 (HB 1473), sec.7.28(d); School Connectivity Initiative - Legislative Update |
Date | 2017-01-15 |
Description | 2017, DPI Chronological Schedule, 2016-2017 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 2.94 MB; 27 p. |
Digital Format |
application/pdf |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_serial_1018381031_school20170115.pdf |
Full Text |
Public Schools of North Carolina
State Board of Education
Department of Public Instruction
Report to the North Carolina
General Assembly
School Connectivity Initiative
SL 2007-323 (HB 1473), SECTION 7.28.(d)
Date Due: January 15, 2017
Report # 44
DPI Chronological Schedule, 2016-2017
2
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
SBE VISION: Every public school student will graduate ready for post-secondary education and work, prepared
to be a globally engaged and productive citizen.
SBE MISSION: The State Board of Education will use its constitutional authority to lead and uphold the system of
public education in North Carolina.
WILLIAM COBEY
Chair :: Chapel Hill – At-Large
A.L. COLLINS
Vice Chair :: Kernersville – Piedmont Triad Region
DAN FOREST
Lieutenant Governor :: Raleigh – Ex Officio
DALE FOLWELL
State Treasurer :: Raleigh – Ex Officio
MARK JOHNSON
Secretary to the Board :: Raleigh
BECKY TAYLOR
Greenville – Northeast
Region
REGINALD KENAN
Rose Hill – Southeast Region
AMY WHITE
Garner – North Central
Region
OLIVIA OXENDINE
Lumberton – Sandhills
Region
GREG ALCORN
Salisbury – Southwest Region
TODD CHASTEEN
Blowing Rock – Northwest
Region
WAYNE MCDEVITT
Asheville – Western Region
ERIC DAVIS
Charlotte – At-Large
PATRICIA N. WILLOUGHBY
Raleigh – At-Large
NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Mark Johnson, State Superintendent
301 N. Wilmington Street :: Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2825
In compliance with federal law, the NC Department of Public Instruction administers all state-operated educational programs,
employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military
service, disability, or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law.
Inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination issues should be directed to:
Dr. Rebecca Garland, Deputy State Superintendent
6368 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6368 :: Telephone: (919) 807-3200 :: Fax: (919) 807-3388
Visit us on the Web :: www.ncpublicschools.org M0116
3
SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE
Legislative Update
Submitted to:
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology
Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee
Office of State Budget and Management
State Chief Information Officer
Fiscal Research Division
Prepared by
Connectivity and E-rate Services Section
Technology Services Area
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
4
FOREWORD
The School Connectivity Initiative (SCI) was created by Session Law 2007-323 SECTION 7.28.(d) as
follows:
SECTION 7.28.(b) As recommended in the Joint Report on Information Technology, February
2007, the State Board of Education shall contract with an entity that has the capacity of
serving as the administrator of the School Connectivity Initiative and has demonstrated
success in providing network services to education institutions in the State. The funds
appropriated in this act shall be used to implement a plan approved by the State Board of
Education to enhance the technology infrastructure for public schools that supports teaching
and learning in the classrooms. The plan shall include the following components:
(1) A business plan with timelines, clearly defined outcomes and an operational model
including a governance structure, personnel, E-rate reimbursement, support services
to LEA’s and schools and budget;
(2) Assurances for a fair and open bidding and contracting process;
(3) Technology assessment site survey template;
(4) Documentation of how the technology will be used to enhance teaching in learning;
(5) Documentation of how existing State-invested funds for technology are maximized
to implement the school connectivity initiative;
(6) The number, location and schedule of sites to be served in 2007-2008 and in 2008-
2009; and
(7) Assurances that local school administrative units will upgrade internal networks in
schools, provide technology tools, and support for teachers and students to use
technology to improve teaching and learning.
The NC State Board of Education approved the School Connectivity Initiative Implementation and
Operating Plan on Thursday, August 2, 2007. The SCI program was managed through the NC ITS
Enterprise Project Management Office supervising projects that gained initial EPMO approval in
September 2007. Within the Implementation and Operating Plan were the following deliverables, all of
which were completed in 2009:
• All 115 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) connected to MCNC’s North Carolina Research and
Education Network (NCREN)
• Establishment of Client Network Engineering Services for LEAs
• Establishment of E-rate Filing Assistance Bureau
• Development of a Technology Master Plan
• Development of Governance and Funding Plans
Each year since the inception of the SCI program, the State Board of Education and the Department of
Public Instruction produces a School Connectivity Initiative Report that summarizes the fiscal and
functional performance of the program and provides insights into the work of the coming year.
5
“High-speed broadband connections to schools and
advanced Wi-Fi inside classrooms have become essential
tools for teachers and students. A major conclusion of the
FCC's recent modernization of the E-rate program is that
local jurisdictions benefit substantially from state-level
assistance in the design, procurement, and ongoing
support of this complex communications infrastructure.
In our nationwide review of state approaches, we found
North Carolina's model to be one of the most effective in
the country. State-level support in North Carolina not
only with matching financial resources but also
purchasing and technical expertise from a dedicated
professional staff at the state level has had a major
positive impact for schools across North Carolina that
stands out as a leading national example.”
Jon Wilkins
Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Former Managing Director
Federal Communications Commission
6
BACKGROUND
The School Connectivity Initiative launched in earnest with the publication of the Developing Regional
Education Networks report in May 2006. In the ten years since the inception of the SCI program, NC
public schools have procured nearly $800,000,000 in network services and infrastructure with State
appropriations totaling $184,000,000 leveraged against over $600,000,000 in federal communications
commission (FCC) E-rate discount funding. During the ten-year stretch, the telecommunications and
computing markets have shifted dramatically, the regulatory environment has been in near constant
flux, and the NC legislature has called for and invested in a digital transition in public schools. Perhaps
most impressively, NC public schools Internet usage has grown from about 1000 Megabits per second
(Mbps) in 2009 to over 98,000 Megabits per second at the writing of this report – with a similar growth
forecast for the foreseeable future.
As illustrated by the timeline above, the SCI program has exhibited extraordinary productivity and
opportunistic adaptability over its ten-year history. Just a few highlights include: connecting all LEAs to
the NC Research and Education Network using an opt-in approach; establishing the Certified Educational
Chief Technology Officer (CeCTO) training program; developing, designing and implementing the
NCEdCloud identity and access management service; partnering with MCNC and the Golden Leaf
Foundation to bring competitive fiber connectivity to rural NC schools and libraries; and, adapting to the
NC Digital Learning Plan, the FCC E-rate modernization order, and the growth of 1:1 programs fueled by
the release of inexpensive computing devices. While the SCI team has accomplished much in its first
decade, there are many opportunities on the horizon. SCI leadership has initiated SCI 2.0 to establish
the priorities and framework for school connectivity innovation and support moving forward.
The balance of this report provides a summary of 2016 accomplishments, a financial summary, capacity
and usage summary, considerations for 2017, and appendices containing detailed supporting data.
2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
May 2006
Developing Regional
Educa1on Networks
All 115 LEAs
connected to NCREN
May 2009
June 2014
First E-rate
moderniza1on
order
MCNC completes
final phase of BTOP-GLF
fiber expansion
August 2013
NC Digital Learning Plan
published. NC legislature
adds $12M [R] to SCI.
September 2015
November 2010
Inaugural class of 34
CeCTO students graduate
NC Legislature Funds
SCI with $12M [R]
July 2007
February 2012
NC Educa1on Cloud
Iden1ty and Access
Management plan
published
August 2008
NC Legislature
adds $10M [R]
for a total of
$22M [R]
November 2016
SCI 2.0 launch
Google introduces
Chromebook
May 2011
7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The School Connectivity Initiative (SCI) continues to deliver high quality Internet access, client network
engineering, Identity services, E-rate support and funding that benefit all NC public schools. Pursuant to
the Appropriations Act of 2015 (S.L. 2015-241), the 2016-17 SCI budget is $31.9M. Major calendar year
2016 SCI accomplishments include:
- Upgraded Internet access to 46 LEAs and 100 charter schools – adding over 40Gbps of aggregate
Internet capacity;
- Connected 16 new charter schools to the NC Research and Education Network (NCREN);
- Provided firewall services to 75 LEAs and 95 Charter Schools;
- Provided web security (Internet filtering) services to 79 LEAs and 92 Charter Schools
- Supported 51 LEAs and 40 charter schools with client network engineering (CNE) support
services, through 148 total CNE engagements (91 LEA and 57 charter school);
- Continued to focus on high-quality, cost-effective training for public K-12 network
administrators in North Carolina. Part of the professional development model is to contract with
professional trainers and industry experts for three to five-day intensive training institutes. In
2016 this included a wireless certification course, and as a result, twenty LEA and charter school
technology personnel received a highly regarded Certified Wireless Network Administrator
(CWNA) certification;
- Managed a wireless infrastructure and services procurement supporting over $55M in
purchases for 72 LEAs and 25 charter schools.
- Issuing (in December 2016) a request for proposals soliciting new pricing for Internet access
services.
Supporting North Carolina’s Digital Learning Plan
Reliable and consistent network access at the classroom and individual device level is imperative to
supporting digital-age learning environments in our public schools. In the initial eight years of the SCI,
the focus was on high performance and highly available Internet access delivered to the district and to
school buildings. The resulting operating and support models for connectivity to the school serve
students and educators well. The focus in the most recent two years has shifted to providing similar
reliability and performance inside of the school. The SCI team has worked with LEAs and charter schools
to upgrade classroom connectivity, targeting summer of 2018 to have all schools and classrooms served
with sustainable digital-ready school networks. In 2015 and 2016, NC LEAs and charter schools have
invested nearly $98M in internal school infrastructure and services, supported by the SCI program and
requiring only $14M in appropriated State funds – with the remaining $84M covered by E-rate ($75M)
and USED RttT funds ($9M). The 2016-17 legislative expansion of SCI funding by $12M recurring is
imperative to sustaining reliable NC school networks.
Optimizing School Connectivity Efficiency and Return On Investment
While the SCI planning, design, and deployment has focused on upgrading classroom connectivity, we
continue to emphasize efficiency and return on investment. Efficiency of operation will always be
important for the SCI program as usage continues to grow at a phenomenal pace – and though
connectivity service costs continue to drop, the increase in usage and the addition of at least a dozen
charter schools per year can easily make for a steeper rise than can be accounted for with cost
decreases. Further, through modeling and forecasting we are developing approaches to optimizing E-rate
returns and to inform district fiber connectivity build-versus-buy decisions.
8
The School Connectivity Initiative delivers services to LEAs and charter schools alike that address
pressing needs in an ever-changing environment that moves at Internet speed.
“I wish to take a moment to share how important the partnership between Avery County Schools and
MCNC is to our students, staff and community. In the summer of 2011, Avery County Schools was able to
enter into a district-wide 1:1 instructional project that provided an iPad for every child and staff person in
grades K-5 and a MacBook for every student and staff person in grades 6-12. Our Internet utilization
immediately went from less than 1000 computers used occasionally throughout the school day to over
2500 devices in use consistently all day long. The connectivity afforded to us by NCREN gives our school
community stable, scalable and effective access to content, services and other resources. The funding
provided through the NC Connectivity Project that offsets the unfunded E-rate discounted costs of
connectivity lets us apply local funds toward other critical needs and helps us work toward our vision of
being a national model of education. We are very grateful for the support and service provided by
MCNC.”
Dennis Brown
Chief Technology Officer
Avery County Schools
“This |
OCLC number | 1018381031 |