This workshop will provide a focused overview of the recent E-rate program expansions, including cybersecurity, hotspot funding, school bus wi-fi, and the current efforts to streamline the program’s application and administration processes. It will also cover the critical impact that connectivity has on student outcomes, including how schools have taken the initiative to connect students at home to ensure they have access to continued learning, regardless of socioeconomic status or access to reliable broadband. Additionally, we will highlight SHLB's advocacy initiatives going into 2025.