What is Computers for Schools (CFS)?
Who administers CFS for the federal government?
What is the objective of the CFS program?
What is the goal of the CFS program?
What are the key benefits of CFS?
What is the cost per unit of each computer delivered through CFS?
Does CFS have a formula to allocate the computers by region or province?
Where can I obtain a donation form?
Can I submit a form over the Internet?
What type of equipment do you accept?
Can the computers we donate be given to schools in our community?
Can an organization that already donates its computers directly to schools participate in the CFS program?
Can I obtain a tax receipt for the computer equipment that I donate to CFS?
How can a school obtain an application form?
Who evaluates the application?
If my school/school board is successful in its application, when will the computers be delivered?
Does my school/school board have to pay for hardware or software received from CFS?
How can schools/school boards participate in the repair of computers?
What if my school/school board receives a computer from CFS and it doesn’t work?
How can I contact you?

1. What is Computers for Schools (CFS)?
Computers for Schools (CFS) is a federal government-led program that operates in cooperation with the provinces and territories, and the private and volunteer sectors, to collect, repair and refurbish donated surplus computers from government and private sector sources and distribute them free to Canada’s schools, libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations.

2. Who administers CFS for the federal government?
Computers for Schools was established in a partnership between Industry Canada and the TelecomPioneers, a national volunteer association of current and retired telecommunications professionals. Industry Canada employs a small team in Ottawa and a network of associates throughout Canada to administer CFS and provide assistance and funding to non-profit licensees that have been established in each province and territory.

3. What is the objective of the CFS program?
CFS helps Canadian students gain greater access to computer technology so that they can develop the skills needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy.

4. What is the goal of the CFS program?
CFS has delivered more than 650 000 computers to schools and libraries throughout Canada. The program has deliveed 102,000 quality computers in 2005 to Canadian schools, libraries and not for profit learning organizations.

5. What are the key benefits of CFS?
• Placing more computers into classrooms means that Canadian students get more hands-on opportunities to learn about computers and new technology, to develop new skills, and to learn how to make better use of the Information Highway.
• CFS completely refurbishes donated equipment by replacing parts, wiping the hard drives, installing operating systems and basic software, and thoroughly cleaning and repackaging each unit for distribution to schools, libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations anywhere in Canada.
• Computers for Schools plays an important role in meeting the objectives of the government’s Youth Employment Strategy by employing in its network of computer repair centres technical program graduates, co-op students, youth interns, students, youths at risk, contract technicians, labourers, and people with physical and/or mental disabilities, as well as using the services of hundreds of volunteers.
• CFS also provides environmental benefits by ensuring that computer systems are reused and recycled so that they do not end up in landfill sites. Non-working systems are stripped of all functional parts that are then used to repair other systems. Floppy disks containing older or unusable software are wiped and used to distribute diagnostic patches and fixes.
• There is growing concern throughout Canada that all students might not have equal access to technology, or equal opportunities to develop the skills required to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. By helping to decrease the ratio of computers to students in Canadian schools, Computers for Schools contributes significantly to decreasing this “digital divide”. Within the broader definition of its mandate, CFS can expand its reach to provide services and equipment to other sectors of Canadian society, allowing them access to computer technology to improve their social and economic well-being. For example, CFS also provides donations and support to public libraries throughout Canada, and to non-profit organizations with mandates that support literacy and learning.

6. What is the cost per unit of each computer delivered through CFS?
The basic cost for each unit delivered through CFS is approximately $65.00.

7. Does CFS have a formula to allocate the computers by region or province?
Equitable access to donated computers is the fundamental distribution criterion of the Computers for Schools program. The total number of donated computers available to any one province/territory is determined on the basis of the jurisdiction’s student population relative to the national student population. Ten percent of a jurisdiction’s allocation is available to public libraries, on top of the number of computers placed in schools. Further, provincial and territorial management committees composed of officials from the province/territory, school boards, education associations and provincial/territorial libraries determine the distribution of the jurisdiction’s allocation of donated computers based on applications from school boards, schools and libraries. Final selection of applicants is based on criteria approved by the Government of Canada. These criteria recognize the need to assist disadvantaged communities, aboriginal schools, and rural and remote school boards, where the need for information technology and networking is often the greatest.

8. Where can I obtain a donation form?
Call CFS 1-888-636-9899 or you can find the form on our web site here.

9. Can I submit a form over the Internet?
Yes! You can find the form on our web site here.

10. What type of equipment do you accept?
In order to minimize the time needed for refurbishment and get the computers to the schools, libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations faster, CFS welcomes donated equipment in good working order. CFS accepts IBM-compatible computers of the Pentium-II level or better, and Macintosh computers at the Power PC level or better. Schools and libraries are asking for Pentium II-class or equivalent equipment as this is the level of technology required to handle the education software used in the classroom or for effective connection to the Internet. Accessories such as working colour monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, modems, scanners, digital cameras and CD-ROM drives are also required. Any application software donations should include all related diskettes or compact discs, applicable manuals and the original product license agreements. If the program was pre-installed, the software manuals and end-user license agreements should accompany the donation. CFS ensures that the hard drive is electronically wiped of all information and that the exterior surfaces of the equipment are cleaned of dust and dirt.

11. Can the computers we donate be given to schools in our community?
Most equipment donated within a province or territory remains in that jurisdiction. Provincial and territorial management committees choose the recipient sites in accordance with criteria that ensure that the needs within a jurisdiction are known and met. If the computers you are donating are “user ready” and you are able to deliver them directly to the recipient, CFS will make every effort to identify an eligible school or library in your community. A computer is considered “user ready” if all extraneous information has been wiped from the hard drive, except for a working operating system such as Windows. It must also be cleaned of dust and dirt.

12. Can an organization that already donates its computers directly to schools participate in the CFS program?
Yes, we encourage organizations already donating computer equipment to schools to join CFS, providing that the donated computers are “classroom ready” and that they meet the standards outlined above. In keeping with Computers for School’s equitable distribution criterion, we will identify the eligible school, library or not-for-profit learning organization that is to receive your donation, ideally in your area. Further, donation through CFS simplifies the transfer of licenses for the Microsoft operating systems already installed on your computers.

13. Can I obtain a tax receipt for the computer equipment that I donate to CFS?
Yes, tax receipts are available, providing the donated computers are at least of the Pentium level or equivalent and in working condition. In addition to complete systems, tax receipts are available for donations of working components such as colour monitors, hard drives, memory chips, printers, scanners, CD ROM drives, modems, servers and digital cameras.

14. How can a school obtain an application form?
Call CFS at 1-888-636-9899 or visit our web site here. This will provide you with the information needed or with a contact within your province or territory.

15. Who evaluates the application?
Provincial and territorial management committees comprising officials from the province or territory, school boards, education associations and provincial/territorial libraries determine the distribution of the jurisdiction’s allocation of donated computers based on applications from school boards, schools and libraries.

16. If my school/school board is successful in its application, when will the computers be delivered?
The delivery time for hardware and software depends on the availability of volunteers and the support of the community. Involvement of the school board can speed-up the arrival of computers. Applicants should consult their provincial/territorial representative for details.

17. Does my school/school board have to pay for hardware or software received from CFS?
No, all hardware and software are provided without cost. Warehousing and repair costs are absorbed by sponsors of the CFS program. However, there may be costs associated with transportation from the provincial or territorial repair centre. Your provincial/territorial representative will be able to provide more details. Please note that a school may be asked to pay for the cost of upgrading the donated computers to meet their need.

18. How can schools/school boards participate in the repair of computers?
CFS has developed guidelines for establishing computer repair centres and computer clubs in high schools and community colleges. Call us at (613) 998-1804 from Ottawa, or 1-888-636-9899 from the rest of Canada, to obtain a copy of the guidelines. Click here for our guidelines online.

19. What if my school/school board receives a computer from CFS and it doesn’t work?
While every effort is made to deliver working computers, shipment may create some difficulties. Should you receive a non-functioning unit, please contact your provincial/territorial representative.

20. How can I contact you?
Call Computers for Schools from anywhere in Canada at 1-888-636-9899, or send us a fax us at (613) 957-1201. You can also find us on the Internet at: http://cfs-ope.ic.gc.ca 

Our Mailing Address is:
Industry Canada
Computers for Schools
155 Queen Street,7th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A  0H5