Idaho Commission for Libraries

The primary measure for determining E-rate discounts is the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunches under the National School Lunch Program, calculated by individual school. Students from family units whose income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty guideline are eligible for the NSLP.

The basic calculations follow. There may be circumstances which make your calculations more complex. Check the SLD website for complete instructions on how to figure your discount.

1. Figure the percent of free and reduced lunches for your school district. (To view the spreadsheet, you will need Microsoft Excel.) Click on the most recent link for “Free and Reduced Lunch by District.” The Idaho Department of Education has figured the percent of free and reduced lunches for you (the column labeled “% Low Income”). You will need to know the school district in which your library is located.
2. Check this SLD web page for rural status. (Hint: Currently, all counties in Idaho except for Ada County and Canyon County are considered rural. Since this designation depends on Census data, this may change with each Census.)

If you are unable to view the Idaho Department of Education spreadsheet on “Free and Reduced Lunches,” please contact Jan Wall and a copy can be faxed to you.

Discount Matrix

If you are applying for E-rate discounts on eligible services, you must calculate the percentage discount that you (and the entities you represent) are eligible to receive. For detailed information about how to calculate the percentage discount, read Calculating Your Discount in the Reference Area.