The item-specific assumptions link to data entry points in the calculator. Whenever you see this small version of "Penny, the TCO pig" to the left of an item, know that she is hyperlinked to an item-specific assumption that may help you to better understand data entry.

Hyperlinked terms (blue underlined words) are linked to definitions in the glossary.

For more information, see What Does the K12 TCO Calculator Do? in the Background section.

Your most important resource will be your school's five-year technology plan. For most data, you will enter a current figure, a projected figure for the first year of implementation, and a projected figure for the fifth year of the school technology plan. Look for these headings at the top of each page.

Two important points to remember when using the calculator:

1. Be as thorough as possible. The summary reports depend on completing as much of the data as possible. In fact, the reports will not be calculated until all critical data are entered. The system will prompt you to supply missing data, and the critical data entry points are identified by an asterisk (*) and red type.
2. Save your work.
You do not need to complete all the data entry at one time. However, to save any data you have entered on a page, be sure to press the update button at the bottom of the page.

The calculator also provides an opportunity to play out "what if" scenarios by changing data without spending the dollars. These scenarios can be helpful to decision makers trying to determine the impact of technology purchases on the total school system.

Web resources related to K12 TCO

Please note. This tool provides an estimate of the multiyear costs of implementing and maintaining technology systems in an existing school in the United States. The costs for individual products and services are not meant to reflect any individual company's offerings, and the actual total system cost can be expected to differ from the estimate.

This calculator provides only an estimate of the cost of a technology system in a K-12 school. Neither the Integrated Technology Education Group, LLC nor IAETE can be held responsible for the accuracy of the output, its relationship to actual costs incurred, or its ultimate use by the school administration or its designated representatives.