The Vermont Department of Education has selected Education Networks of
America (ENA) to provide managed Internet access and wide area network
(WAN) services, including options to take advantage of new
cost-effective IP voice and video teleconferencing services, on an
opt-in basis to all public and private K-12 schools in the state.
On behalf of the state’s K-12 schools, the department issued a request
for proposal (RFP) for managed connectivity and communication services
in an effort to increase affordable bandwidth availability across the
state through group purchase pricing, as well as to maximize E-Rate
program funding for these services. The E-Rate program provides
subsidized discounts to school and libraries for the purchase of
telecommunication and networking services.
This action was driven by Vermont’s Transformation of Education
initiative and follows an analysis in 2008 that determined Vermont’s
schools were not getting the full benefit of E-Rate funding.
Subsequently, the department began a process to solicit an entity to
create an E-Rate eligible statewide managed network accessible to all
Vermont schools. This endeavor begins a process that could lead to
statewide organization of a number of services related to improved
connectivity and communication such as video teleconferencing and Voice
over IP (VoIP) and better E-Rate reimbursement rates for schools across
Vermont.
“Technology plays a vital role in implementing two of
the key tenets of the Transformation of Education initiative –
student-centered education and the advent of flexible learning
environments,” said Peter Drescher, educational technology coordinator for
the department.“Without robust broadband in place for schools to access
the myriad of resources available via the Internet, we cannot expect to
move our students into an environment that addresses those tenets or
helps them build the skills necessary to live and work in a 21st century
world.” In partnership with ENA, this action will deliver enhanced and
affordable robust connectivity and communication services to Vermont
schools.