Education Week--Modern E-Rate Puts Telephones On Hold in K-12

Even in the internet age, the lowly telephone remains an indispensable tool in the day-to-day operations of nearly every school.

But thanks to the double whammy of declining state aid and disappearing federal subsidies for such "legacy" technology services, districts nationwide are scrambling to fill a roughly $359 million hole in their collective budgets, according to a new analysis by the Edmond, Okla.-based consulting firm Funds for Learning.

The problem will likely get worse before it gets better, said John Harrington, the group's CEO.

"Schools are nowhere near being in a position to just cut their phone lines," Harrington said. "If they need to get a hold of a parent, they're not going to message them on Facebook."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/10/12/modern-e-rate-puts-telephones-on-hold-in.html

By Benjamin Herold|October 11, 2016