E-Rate

The Supreme Court in Washington, June 30, 2024.
The U.S. Supreme Court considers a major challenge to the E-rate program for school internet connections on March 26.
Susan Walsh/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Appears Unlikely to Strike Down School E-Rate Program
The Supreme Court seems unlikely to strike down the E-rate program, though some justices questioned its funding structure and oversight.
Mark Walsh, March 26, 2025
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5 min read
The Supreme Court of the United States is seen on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court, seen on Feb. 27, next week will hear arguments in a challenge to the funding structure of the $4 billion federal E-rate program, which provides discounts to schools to connect to the internet.
Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP
Law & Courts Schools Fear Funding Loss as Supreme Court Weighs E-Rate Case
The justices hear arguments next week in a challenge to the funding structure of the $4 billion program to connect schools to the internet.
Mark Walsh, March 20, 2025
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8 min read
The Supreme Court building is seen on June 13, 2024, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court, seen here on June 13, 2024, on Feb. 21 issued a ruling that means private whistleblowers may pursue lawsuits alleging fraud under the federal E-rate program that provides internet connections to schools.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Law & Courts Schools May Get Relief From Overcharges After Supreme Court Ruling on E-Rate
The ruling potentially bolsters schools that have been overcharged by telecommunications companies.
Mark Walsh, February 21, 2025
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5 min read
Image of students using laptops in the classroom.
E+
Classroom Technology What's In, What's Out for AI, Cellphones, Cybersecurity, and Other Ed-Tech Stuff
Education technology changes quickly, and so do the trends that define how educators and students use it. What's ahead for 2025?
Arianna Prothero & Lauraine Langreo, January 2, 2025
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1 min read
Illustrations of man be scammed online with fishing line.
Digital Vision Vectors
Privacy & Security Districts Flood FCC With Requests for New Cybersecurity Funds
The demand comes as the education sector's risk for cyberattacks continues to rise.
Lauraine Langreo, December 3, 2024
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4 min read
digital citizenship computer phone 1271520062
solarseven/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Billions of School Tech Dollars At Risk as Supreme Court Takes Up E-Rate Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a lower-court decision that struck down the funding mechanism for the E-rate school internet program.
Mark Walsh, November 22, 2024
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3 min read
Image of students working on a computer.
Carlos Barquero Perez/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Supreme Court Weighs High-Stakes Fraud Issue for E-Rate Program
The justices appear to lean toward a ruling that could help keep schools from being overcharged by telecommunications companies.
Mark Walsh, November 4, 2024
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8 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts What's Ahead for Education This Supreme Court Term? Trans Rights, E-Rate, and More
The justices have one major case on transgender medical care on their docket and others pending on gender-identity issues in schools.
Mark Walsh, October 4, 2024
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10 min read
FILE - The Supreme Court is seen under stormy skies in Washington, June 20, 2019. In the coming days, the Supreme Court will confront a perfect storm mostly of its own making, a trio of decisions stemming directly from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The Biden administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court—shown here in June 2019—to reinstate a funding mechanism that distributes $2 billion annually for the E-rate program that supports internet connectivity in schools and libraries. A federal appeals court ruled that the mechanism was unconstitutional in July.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Asks Supreme Court to Spare Huge E-Rate Funding Source
A lower court ruling has jeopardized more than $2 billion in annual funding for internet connectivity for schools and libraries.
Mark Walsh, October 1, 2024
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3 min read
Photograph of a young girl reading, wearing headphones and working at her desk at home with laptop near by.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Ed-Tech Policy E-Rate Is in Legal Jeopardy. Here’s What Schools Stand to Lose
The FCC released a fact sheet about how the E-rate helps schools in response to a court ruling that threatens the program's funding.
Lauraine Langreo, August 14, 2024
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1 min read
Photo of teenage girl using laptop computer in school library.
E+
Ed-Tech Policy Billions of Dollars for Ed Tech in Schools Are Now in Jeopardy. Here's Why
A federal appeals court ruling has put the funding mechanism for the nearly 30-year-old E-rate program in legal jeopardy.
Alyson Klein, July 25, 2024
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5 min read
Photo of a blurred image of a female student in the background working on a laptop at home with a closeup of the modem router on the table in the forefront.
iStock/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy FCC Update to E-Rate Program Will Help Students Do Homework Anywhere
Supporters say the change aligns with the realities of today's education landscape.
Lauraine Langreo, July 18, 2024
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3 min read
Student at computer from home, doing school work with wifi connection icon images overlaying image.
Liz Yap/Education Week and E+/Getty.
Ed-Tech Policy Q&A How the FCC Wants to Tackle the 'Homework Gap'
The FCC approved an expansion of the E-rate program to include Wi-Fi hotspots.
Lauraine Langreo, July 15, 2024
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4 min read
The Supreme Court building is seen on June 13, 2024, in Washington.
The Supreme Court building is seen on June 13, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Law & Courts Why the $4.5 Billion School E-Rate Program Is Headed to the Supreme Court
The justices will decide whether allegations of overcharging under the telecom-funded program may be brought under the False Claims Act.
Mark Walsh, June 17, 2024
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6 min read
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