The Technical Partner Your
Schools Need Behind You
You get the E-Rate funding approved. We make sure the infrastructure behind it is CIPA-compliant, documented, and audit-ready. Southern Maryland MSP, SAM.gov registered, built for exactly this kind of partnership.
The Gap Between E-Rate Approval and Compliance
Getting E-Rate funding approved is one thing. Making sure the schools you work with have the compliant IT infrastructure that goes with it — documented, auditable, and defensible — is another. That’s where we come in.
The Problem Schools with E-Rate funding but no compliant IT infrastructureCIPA filtering that exists but generates no audit logs. No written internet safety policy. Former staff with active credentials. Devices with no management or encryption. The funding is approved — the compliance documentation isn’t there. | What You Need A technical partner who handles the infrastructure sideSomeone who can step in, get the filtering documented, get the devices managed, and produce the CIPA compliance records an auditor needs — without you having to manage the IT relationship yourself or risk your schools’ E-Rate eligibility. | What We Do Handle the technical side so you can focus on the fundingLewis IT handles CIPA-compliant filtering with full audit logging, FERPA documentation, device management, and the IT infrastructure that makes your schools’ E-Rate applications defensible — and keeps them that way between funding cycles. |
What We Handle for Your Schools
Everything on the technical and compliance side that your schools need in order to be E-Rate audit-ready — and FERPA-compliant while they’re at it.
CIPA-Compliant Filtering with Audit TrailNot just a filter — a documented, auditable filtering system that generates the logs, reports, and certification records your schools need for E-Rate Form 479 and auditor review. We produce on-demand reports on request. | FERPA Compliance DocumentationWritten data management policies, access control documentation, parent notification templates, and records request procedures — the documentation that protects your schools from compliance inquiries and gives them something to show an accreditor. |
Device Management (MDM)Chromebook, iPad, and laptop fleet management with centralized control, remote wipe, app policies, and the usage documentation that satisfies E-Rate Category 2 equipment requirements. | Internet Safety PolicyA written, board-adopted internet safety policy is a CIPA requirement for E-Rate eligibility. We draft the policy, document its adoption, and keep it current — so your schools have the record when an auditor asks for it. |
Staff Access Controls & OffboardingAutomated same-day credential revocation for departing staff — the most common FERPA finding in school compliance investigations. Role-based access to student systems, documented and maintained. | Network InfrastructureBusiness-class networking that supports E-Rate Category 1 services — properly configured, documented, and maintained. We handle the cabling, switching, and wireless infrastructure that your schools’ connectivity funding goes toward. |
Our Commitment to You We Support the Technical Side. |
✓ You stay the E-Rate consultant of record ✓ We don’t contact your schools about E-Rate funding ✓ We don’t pitch consulting services to your clients | ✓ We coordinate directly with your school IT contacts ✓ We keep you informed on compliance status ✓ Referral arrangements available if you prefer |
Why Partner with Lewis IT
We’re not a generalist MSP who happens to serve some schools. Education is one of our four primary verticals. We know what E-Rate auditors ask for because we’ve built the documentation that answers those questions.
Southern Maryland BasedSt. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties. We’re on-site when schools need us — not managing them remotely from another state. | FERPA & CIPA ExpertiseWe’ve passed FERPA compliance inquiries for Maryland schools. We know what the documentation looks like and what auditors actually ask for. | SAM.gov RegisteredNAICS 541519, SBA small business. We understand the federal program environment and how it interacts with state and local education funding. |
Compliance-First by DesignEvery engagement produces documentation. Not just working systems — the written policies, audit trails, and records that make a school defensible when a question is raised. | Budget-Conscious ApproachWe understand that private schools and small public schools operate on constrained budgets. We scope engagements accordingly and help schools understand what E-Rate funding can offset. | Responsive & AccountableWhen a school has a compliance deadline or an audit inquiry, response time matters. We’re reachable, we produce deliverables on schedule, and you always know where things stand. |
How the Partnership Works
Simple. No complicated referral structure, no long onboarding process.
1 15-Minute Intro CallWe learn about the schools you work with, the geography you cover, and what the typical compliance gaps look like in your portfolio. No pitch, no pressure. | 2 Agree on ScopeWe define what we handle, what you handle, and how we communicate about shared clients. Referral arrangement or direct engagement — your preference. | 3 Introduce a SchoolWhen one of your schools needs the technical side handled, you make the introduction. We take it from there and keep you informed throughout. | 4 School Gets CompliantYour school gets CIPA-compliant filtering with audit logs, FERPA documentation, and managed IT. Their E-Rate application is defensible. You look good to your client. |
Questions We Usually Get
Do you work with public schools or only private?
Both. Private schools in Southern Maryland often have less institutional IT support and more immediate compliance gaps. Public schools in our service area typically have existing IT staff and benefit more from our co-managed model — we fill the specialized compliance and security gaps their team doesn’t have bandwidth for.
What geography do you cover?
We’re based in Southern Maryland and primarily serve St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties. We’ll consider schools in adjacent counties depending on the scope of engagement. If you work with schools outside that geography, let’s talk — we may still be able to structure something that works.
Can we structure a referral arrangement?
Yes. We’re open to referral arrangements where it makes sense. The specifics depend on the nature of the engagement and the school — we’d work that out in our initial conversation. The more common arrangement is a straightforward partnership where you make the introduction and we handle the technical relationship independently.
What does a typical school engagement look like?
We start with an assessment of the school’s current IT setup against FERPA and CIPA requirements. From there we produce a gap report, implement the technical controls (filtering, MDM, access controls), and build the compliance documentation package. Ongoing managed IT is available for schools that want continuous coverage rather than a one-time remediation.
How quickly can you engage with a school that has a compliance deadline?
Quickly. We’ve delivered a complete FERPA compliance documentation package for a Maryland school with a 21-day deadline. If a school has an E-Rate audit, an accreditation review, or a compliance inquiry with a deadline, call us — that’s exactly the situation we’re built for.
Let’s Have a 15-Minute Conversation
Tell us about the schools you work with and we’ll tell you where we can help. No pitch, no pressure — just a conversation between two people who work with the same clients.
Your Schools Need This Side Handled.
E-Rate funding without compliant infrastructure is a liability waiting to surface. Let’s make sure the schools you work with have both — and that you have a technical partner you can count on when they need it.
