ADMINISTRATIVE

The Department of Education has previously surveyed school 
divisions to determine school division access to the 
Internet. Based upon the results of that survey and 
anticipated connectivity gains as the result of e-rate 
funding, it has become evident that a better understanding 
is needed of the level and extent of Internet connectivity 
within each school building. We expect to be asked to 
provide this information to the Virginia General Assembly 
and other parties interested in improving Internet access 
and network-based services to our schools.

A brief survey has been developed to collect information on 
each school in your division. We ask that this survey be 
completed by the division's technology coordinator. The 
survey requests the number of Internet capable and 
connected computers in various types of rooms in each 
school, the type of Internet connection and whether this 
connection is via a wide area network. We are also asking 
if Internet filtering is in use for the school and the name 
of the Internet Service Provider.

The survey is automated using Microsoft Excel version 5. 
Technology coordinators may download the survey from the 
Technology Division web page at: 
www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology, complete it, and E-mail 
the resulting file to the Department of Education using the 
E-mail address connect@pen.k12.va.us. Data definitions are 
contained within the worksheet and detailed instructions 
are attached to this memo.

Please complete and return the survey to the Department no 
later than August 16, 1999. Questions may be directed to 
Lan Neugent, assistant superintendent for technology, via 
E-mail at lneugent@pen.k12.va.us or by phone at (804) 225-
2757 or Bethann Canada, director of MIS, via E-mail at 
bcanada@pen.k12.va.us or by phone at (804) 225-2951. Thank 
you in advance for your assistance.


PDS/emt

Attachment:     A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
                will be sent to the superintendent's office.

                 Virginia Department of Education
                       Division of Technology
             Internet Connectivity Survey Instructions
                             July, 1999

Step 1: Download the survey file from the Technology 
Division's web page: www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/,
saving the file on your hard drive. The file is called 
is-div.xls.

Step 2: Open the file using Microsoft Excel and complete 
the contact information on the first page. Use ENTER to 
move from cell to cell.


Step 3: Select your school division name from the drop 
down list box. Verify that it is correct. An Excel 
worksheet will now be populated with the names of the 
schools in your division.

Step 4: Supply the information requested for each school, 
using ENTER or the arrow keys to move from cell to cell. 
Click on the question marks above each column heading for a 
definition of the data to be entered.

     Columns `F' through `J' require numeric values and  
     must contain a number.  If there are none, then enter 
     `0' (zero).  For columns `K' through `M', please 
     select the appropriate option button.  If applicable, 
     fill in the requested text in column `N'.  

Step 5: When information has been entered for all 
schools, press ENTER and click on the `Validate' button to 
edit your data.  Should your data contain errors, 
explanatory messages will direct you to correct them.  When 
all errors have been eliminated, save the form by clicking 
the `Save' button. A file named IS-xxx.xls (where xxx is 
your school division number) will be created. Take note of 
the file location. 

Step 6: Attach the file IS-xxx..xls to a message and E-
mail it to: connect@pen.k12.va.us.

Please return the information by August 16, 1999.