The Socorro Independent School District hosted its first regional E-Rate Policy Summit on April 28, bringing together school technology professionals from across Region 19 to discuss federal broadband funding, policy changes and best practices for enhancing student digital learning.
The summit focused on the federal E-Rate program, which helps schools obtain discounts on internet connectivity, network infrastructure and Wi-Fi equipment. According to SISD E-Rate Administrator Trisha Dominguez, the program can cover between 80% and 90% of eligible costs, providing significant savings for districts as technology demands continue to grow.
“Infrastructure is very expensive,” Dominguez said. “When we apply, we get like 80 to 90% savings, so it’s very beneficial for the districts.”
The event included discussions on changes in the E-Rate program as federal policies continue changing. Representatives from the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) joined the summit to share updates on advocacy efforts and important issues affecting schools across the country.
Dominguez said the summit was designed to help districts stay informed while strengthening collaboration among regional educators and technology teams.
“This is our first summit,” Dominguez said. “My goal is to strengthen the E-Rate community and establish a yearly summit for the districts so that we can come together and talk about the practices, the processes, what works, what doesn't and what we can do together to make it successful.”
For students and families, E-Rate funding means students have dependable internet access in classrooms and supports both digital learning and testing capabilities.
“We want to make sure that when the kids are in the classroom, they have that network connectivity,” Dominguez said.
Beverly Sutherland, co-founder of E-Rate Sync and secretary of the SHLB board, said the summit helps districts better understand funding opportunities and prepare for the future of digital learning.
“We live in a connected world now,” Sutherland said. “What students are doing online in the classroom prepares them for this economy, which is an AI economy.”
Organizers are working to make the summit an annual event, making SISD a leader in educational technology and internet access in the region.