Step 1 Technology Planning

Non-Public School Plans

In states where non-public schools are not required by applicable law to obtain state approval for technology plans and telecommunications expenditures, or where State Education Agencies (SEA) have indicated that they will not be approving technology plans for non-public schools, USAC will authorize an alternative approval process administered by appropriate entities. The approved entities will certify to USAC that:

• Approval procedures will be similar in rigor to existing peer reviews used by non-public schools for other certification purposes; and
• Approval procedures will be based on an independent peer review that will include the criteria and standards for plans in Technology Planning and Tech Plan Scope and Timeframe.

USAC will certify technology plan approvers for non-public school plans. These entities may include:

• Regional accreditation associations,
• National, state, regional, and local private school associations, and
• National, state, and regional parochial school associations.

In some states, the SEA or an education service agency may also work with non-public schools to establish an appropriate third-party approval process for non-public school technology plans. In the absence of any of these alternatives, USAC may consult directly with the SEA and the non-public schools in a state or region to certify appropriate approval procedures. USAC will maintain a directory of entities that it has certified to approve non-public school plans and will facilitate non-public school access to these entities when necessary. USAC and USAC-certified technology plan approvers may not be used to appeal the review of any other approver.

A school within a Diocesan school district or comparable entity that has an approved plan is considered to have an approved plan in its own right, if that approved district-wide technology plan validates the use of the contracted telecommunications services for educational purposes in that school in a manner consistent with the criteria and standards outlined in Technology Planning and Tech Plan Scope and Timeframe.