FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

How did this opportunity come about?
In 2006, the Florida Legislature approved a law that allows sales and use taxpayers to donate the collection allowance they receive for calculating their sales tax to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The money collected will go to local school districts in the county where the business is located to support classroom technology and teacher training. In 2005-2006, approximately $61 million in collection allowances were retained by Florida businesses. Using the pro-rata share of the population as a guide, Broward County could potentially receive about $6 million to support instructional use of technology.  

Who can direct funds into the Trust?
Sales and use taxpayers that are entitled to collect the sales tax allowance can choose to donate their collection allowance to the Fund. They may only do this if they file a timely sales and use tax return. Late, under-paid or incomplete forms will require resolution before any money can be transferred into the trust fund. 

How much money would be available to donate into the Trust Fund?
Currently, tax filers are entitled to a collection allowance of 2.5 percent of the first $1200 of a tax due (a maximum of $30) as compensation for keeping records, filing timely returned, proper accounting and sending taxes on a timely basis.

How is money directed to the Trust Fund?
To make a donation to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund a sales and use tax dealer should “check” the box on the forms they submit to the state (DR-15 or DR-15EZ or DR-15CON). Taxpayers who fill in the “check box” located on these forms will be directing the Department of revenue to deposit the dealer’s collection allowance for that return (max $30) into the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. This selection must be made every time the returns are filed. Taxpayers who check the appropriate box should leave the collection allowance amount line on the return blank. The state will calculate the proper collection. This is especially helpful if the taxpayer files a consolidated return for more than one location.

How will this Help Broward County Public Schools?
Broward County Public Schools is a leader in integrating technology into the learning environment in thousands of classrooms and school media centers throughout the District. While Broward County Public Schools is known nationwide as a leader in integrating technology, progress has been hindered due to a lack of funding and resources.

Florida currently ranks near the bottom in the nation when it comes to per capita state expenditures for education.  The “Send Your Sales Tax To School” program is one small step toward making up for this inequity.

Why is that important?
Most children today are way ahead of adults when it comes to the use of technology in their daily lives.  By middle school, most children are already adept at using computers, cellular telephones, PDAs, and iPods.  It only makes sense that incorporating this type of technology into the learning process will enhance student achievement.

While all students have access to computers in District schools, the goal is for all students to have full-time access to this technology, beginning in the classroom and extending into every home.

How is the District doing with its plan to integrate technology into schools?
The District has spent nearly $110 million over the past two years on various programs associated with this effort – including training teachers; installing technology infrastructure in classrooms and school media centers; and providing laptop and desk top computers; videoconferencing equipment and other electronic technology to all schools in the system.

The District has implemented a number of technology integration programs over the past several years, including:

1. Digital Learning Environment Study (DLE) – creation of a one-on-one learning environment in which most students in two high schools, an elementary and a middle school were provided with laptop computers for use in their classrooms and at home.  The schools involved in the program are Broward Estates Elementary, Attucks Middle, Miramar and Monarch High Schools.
   
   

2. Digital Education Teacher Academy (DETA) – professional development partnership with Florida Atlantic University that provides a series of graduate level courses for teachers and administrators to increase their skills in integrating technology into the curriculum.
   
   

3. Broward Enterprise Portal (BEEP) – a secure, Web-based single point of access to digital curriculum resources for teachers and students to use for teaching and learning.  The curriculum materials included in BEEP are online courses, video-based tutorials, video programming and a number of educational resources and activities.
   
   

4. Global Learning Initiative for Digital Education for Students (GLIDES) – provides teachers and students with standards-based, multidisciplinary, project-based curriculum incorporating technology integration, research and assessments. 
   
   

5. Broward Virtual University – offers quality online staff development with multiple start dates throughout the school year.  There are over one hundred course offerings, including those that assist teachers in maintaining their certification and enhancing their classroom performance.

6. Virtual Technology Recognition Project (VTRP) – offers educators the opportunity share technology-enhanced lesson plans and curriculum projects that focus on the Sunshine State Standards and the National Education Technology Standards.
   
   

How will the additional funds be used for?
Over the next five years, Broward County Public Schools plans to spend nearly $320 million as part of a comprehensive plan to continue and escalate its technology integration effort. The money will be used to increase the number of laptop computers we have for students, as well as to escalate our training programs for teachers in how to use this new technology in classrooms and school media centers throughout the system.