Successful technology plans align the overall education or library service improvement objectives with the following five criteria. To qualify as an approved Technology Plan for a Universal Service Program discount, the plans must meet these criteria. It is critical that technology planning not be viewed or treated as a separate exercise dealing primarily with hardware and telecommunications infrastructure. There must be connections between the proposed physical infrastructure of the information technology and the plan for professional development, curriculum reform, and library service improvements.

_____ The plan establishes clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services.

_____ The plan has a professional development strategy to ensure that staff knows how to use the new technologies to improve education or library services.

_____ The plan includes an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.

_____ The plan provides for a sufficient budget to acquire and maintain the hardware, software, professional development, and other services that will be needed to implement the strategy for improved education or library services.

_____ The plan includes an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

X = Meets criteria
I = Limited period of approval, needs improvement
O = Does not meet criteria