Experts who have reviewed a U.S. Education Department study -- which shows the federal e-rate program to help schools and libraries around the nation get connected to the Internet has generally met its goals for the program's first two years -- say the effort doesn't reach the small, poor schools that need help most, the New York Times reports.

Information provided in the "E-Rate and the Digital Divide: A Preliminary Analysis From the Integrated Studies of Educational Technology" indicates that these schools are held back because of the e-rate program's financial and bureaucratic requirements, even though the program pays for up to 90 percent of computer networking costs.

Duncan Chaplin, research associate for the Urban Institute’s Education Policy Center -- which conducted the analysis -- says it can take 20 to 30 hours of personnel time to locate the necessary information and complete a grant application. Small, poor schools that are often understaffed often decide the $2,000 to $3,000 they might receive is not worth the effort, the Times reports.

"On average, the logistics are a bigger problem, but for some communities, it's just the poverty," Mark Strange, policy director for the Rural School and Community Trust, told the newspaper. "For the poorest schools and communities, the 10 percent is a problem, but for a number, they have to front the money first, then get reimbursed. You have to spend to get reimbursed and they don't have the money to spend."

Representatives of the Organizations Concerned About Rural Education and the National Association of Independent Schools expressed similar concerns about the program.

The Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Corp. and the Federal Communications Commission -- the two groups managing the e-rate program -- say they are working to simplify the application process.

An application form is now available online. The schools and libraries agency also has implemented training sessions and a toll-free telephone number -- (888) 203-8100 -- to help increase the number of applications from poorer schools, the Times reports.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/
19/technology/20EDUCATION.html