DISCLAIMER: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (MDE) Office f P-20 Data and Infrmatin Management Educatinal Technlgy Unit Sectin 99h: Cmpetitive FIRST Rbtics Grants Request fr Prpsal GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (9-14-2017) (Updated Nn-public Vendr Link 12-13-17) THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIVE GRANT IS ANNOUNCED AND AWARD IS CONTINGENT ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE COLLECTED USING THE MICHIGAN ELECTRONIC GRANTS SYSTEM PLUS (MEGS+). FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE AID MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SAMS). INTRODUCTION: The fiscal year (FY) 2017 State Schl Aid Act, Sectin 99h apprpriated $2,500,000 fr the 2017-18 schl year fr cmpetitive grants t districts that prvide pupils in grades K-12 with expanded pprtunities t imprve mathematics, science, and technlgy skills by participating in events hsted by a science and technlgy develpment prgram knwn as FIRST (Fr Inspiratin and Recgnitin f Science and Technlgy). Legislatin has expanded the FIRST grant prgram by prviding an additinal allcatin f $300,000 frm general fund fr FIRST Rbtics r Science Olympiad grant awards t nn-public schls. These awards will prvide pupils in grades K-12 with expanded pprtunities t imprve mathematics, science and technlgy skills by participating in events hsted by a science and technlgy develpment prgram knwn as FIRST Rbtics, including FIRST LEGO League Jr., FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Rbtics Cmpetitin r participatin in Science Olympiad prgrams. PURPOSE OF THE GRANT: T imprve mathematics, science, and technlgy skills by participating in events hsted by FIRST in Michigan. The intent f the grant is t increase the number f pupils demnstrating prficiency in science and mathematics n the state assessments and t increase the number f pupils wh are cllege-and careerready upn high schl graduatin. The cmpetitive FIRST Rbtics Grants supprt the MDE s Tp 10 in 10 gals tw, three, fur, and six thrugh several key activities. 1
The FIRST (Fr Inspiratin and Recgnitin f Science and Technlgy) Rbtics Prgram supprts gal tw, strategy 2.6 and 2.7 by engaging students in wellrunded learning experiences in Science, Technlgy, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), language, business, culture, and creativity, as well as prviding access t persnalized learning technlgies that supprt and enhance thse learning experiences. The FIRST Rbtics Prgram supprts gal three by prviding caches and mentrs with pprtunities t receive additinal prfessinal develpment and access t State Cntinuing Educatin Clck-Hurs. The FIRST Rbtics Prgram supprts gal fur by prviding funding t districts with high-risk factrs t ensure access t equitable resurces. Finally, the FIRST Rbtics Prgram supprts gal six by requiring the establishment f partnerships between teams and jb prviders, cmmunity clleges, and higher educatin t assure a prepared and quality future wrkfrce. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: All individual lcal educatin agencies (LEAs), public schl academies (PSAs), and intermediate schl districts (ISDs) that enrll students grades K-12 that prvide pupils with expanded pprtunities t imprve mathematics, science and technlgy skills by participating in events hsted by FIRST in Michigan. At this time, registered nnpublic schls are eligible applicants fr the 2017-18 schl year. T register with the MDE, visit: http://www.michigan.gv/budget/0,4538,7-157-79033---,00.html, SIGMA Vendr Self-Service (VSS). Nnpublic schls must be registered with the MDE prir t applicatin deadline. GRANT REQUIREMENTS: The grant requirements upn which applicants will be selected and grantees required t meet are the fllwing: Defined in Statue: T be eligible fr a grant, a district will demnstrate that it has: Established a partnership fr the purpse f the FIRST Rbtics prgram with at least ne spnsr, business entity, higher educatin institutin, r technical schl. Submitted a spending plan. A sample can be fund at www.techplan.rg/rdi. Agreed t pay at least 25 percent f the cst f the FIRST Rbtics prgram Cach Stipend and Advancement Award. The match may be cash r in-kind (such as paying the FICA and insurance up t the match amunt). Agreed t prvide matching funds fr the Supprt Award frm private r lcal surces equal t at least 50 percent f the csts f participatin in 2
an event. The match may be cash r in-kind (such as prviding a rm t build, transprtatin t events, etc.). 3
Prpsed by Staff: Each applicant must: Be registered fr the current seasn with www.firstinspires.rg fr the prgram that crrespnds with the FIRST Prgressin f Prgrams in Michigan, namely: FIRST Leg League Jr Early elementary grades FIRST Leg League Upper elementary grades FIRST Tech Challenge Middle Schl FIRST Rbtics Cmpetitin High Schl Nte: See the frequently asked questins (FAQ) dcument fr alignment f FIRST Rbtics prgramming and grade range fr early elementary, upper elementary, middle schl, and high schl. Have a current FIRST Rbtics prgram, team number, and cach in place fr the current seasn. Participate in at least the fllwing number f fficial FIRST in Michigan cmpetitins during the current seasn: Tw district cmpetitins fr all high schl FIRST Rbtics Cmpetitin teams One qualifying event fr all middle schl FIRST Tech Challenge teams and all upper elementary FIRST Leg League teams One exp fr all early elementary FIRST Leg League Jr teams Be willing t ffer elective high schl credits fr students wh have successfully lgged 60 hurs, prvided the team attends a minimum f tw district cmpetitins. Be willing t participate in the digital badging prgram established by the statewide FIRST Rbtics team f caches. Prvide MDE with an electrnic rster, which includes student Unique Identificatin Cde (UIC). Each nnpublic schl applicant must, in additin: Be registered with the MDE and meet all state reprting requirements fr nnpublic schls. Each nnpublic schl applicant selecting t apply fr Science Olympiad funding must: Establish a partnership fr the purpse f the Science Olympiad prgram with at least ne spnsr, business entity, higher educatin institutin, r technical schl. Submit a spending plan. A sample Science Olympiad spending plan can be fund at www.techplan.rg. 4
Agree t pay at least 25 percent f the cst f the Science Olympiad prgram cach stipend and advancement award. Agree t prvide matching funds fr the Supprt Award frm private r lcal surces equal t at least 50 percent f the csts f participatin in an event. Prvide MDE with an electrnic rster, which includes student Unique Identificatin Cde (UIC). Participatin in the Michigan Data Hubs t speed this prcess will be preferred. Be registered fr the current seasn with Science Olympiad prgram and have a cach in place. Participate in a minimum f ne Science Olympiad turnament. Be willing t ffer elective high schl credits fr students wh have successfully lgged 60 hurs and participated in at least ne turnament event. Be willing t participate in a digital badging prgram. In supprt f legislative intent, all awards will be distributed t districts in a cmpetitive and equitable manner that will maximize the number f teams that will be able t receive funding. Preference will be given t applicants that supprt under-represented areas by priritizing: High ecnmically disadvantaged ppulatins (fcus and pririty based schls). Schls that serve a high percentage f lw incme families (based n Free and Reduced Lunch cunt data). First time teams participating in FIRST Rbtics starting with the high schl prgram and wrking dwn t kindergarten and first time primary teams fr Science Olympiad. Districts that establish feeder teams (teams that generate student ppulatins that will ptentially mve up t high schl r middle schl prgrams). Districts in a brad gegraphical distributin. TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE: ***$2,500,000 fr Public Schls*** ***$300,000 fr Nn-Public Schls*** 5
FIRST ROBOTICS PROGRAMMING GRANT STRUCTURE: a) Cach s Stipend Award Registered FIRST team in the State f Michigan will be eligible fr a cach s stipend award up t: $1,500 fr a High Schl FIRST Rbtics Cmpetitin team (limit ne high schl prgram stipend per schl) $1,000 fr a Middle Schl FIRST Tech Challenge team (limit ne middle schl prgram stipend per schl) $ 750 fr a Upper Elementary FIRST LEGO League Team (limit upper elementary prgram stipend per schl) $ 300 fr an Early Elementary FIRST LEGO League Jr. team (limit ne early elementary prgram stipend per schl) Awards are limited and will be awarded based n the priritizatin f needs that supprt under-represented areas utlined n page 4. Actual award amunts may be adjusted based n availability f funding. Nte: The match n the cach stipend can include payment f caches FICA and scial security, if they are emplyed by the schl district, therwise it can be paid directly t the cach. ***MDE Stipend Award + 25% Match = Ttal Stipend Amunt *** FRC Example: $1,500 stipend + $375 match = $1,875 b) Supprt Awards (Event Registratins, Materials, Travel Csts, Other) The MDE has made supprt awards available t FIRST Rbtics Teams, FIRST Tech Challenge Teams, FIRST LEGO League Teams and FRIST LEGO League Jr. Teams. The supprt awards will be paid ut t eligible districts per team that meet all grant requirements and based n criteria priritizatin as utlined abve. The payment structure is: $7,500 - Rkie High Schl FIRST Rbtics Teams $5,000-2 nd year High Schl FIRST Rbtics Teams $2,000-3 rd year High Schl FIRST Rbtics Teams $1,000-4 th year and beynd High Schl FIRST Rbtics $0,300 - FIRST Tech Challenge Teams $0,200 - FIRST LEGO League Teams $0,100 - FIRST LEGO League Jr. Teams 6
c) Advancement Awards 1 Advancement Awards t the state and wrld champinship cmpetitins will be awarded in equal amunts per team fr thse teams that advance t the state champinship and a secnd equal award amunt t thse teams that advance t the wrld champinship. An advancement award f equal amunt may als be awarded t FIRST Tech Challenge teams that advance t Super- Reginal cmpetitin. All advancement awards are cntingent upn available funding. SCIENCE OLYMPIAD PROGRAMMING GRANT STRUCTURE (Nnpublic Schls Only): d) Cach s Stipend Award Registered primary Science Olympiad team(s) in the State f Michigan will be eligible fr a cach s stipend award up t $1,000 t be used fr a single cach s salary nly. Awards are limited and will be awarded based n the priritizatin f needs that supprt under-represented areas utlined n page 4. e) Supprt Awards (Event Registratins, Materials, Travel Csts, Other) The MDE has made supprt awards available t Primary Science Olympiad Team(s). The supprt awards will be paid ut t eligible districts per team that meets all grant requirements and based n criteria priritizatin as utlined abve. The payment structure is: New Secndary - $1,600 New Elementary - $800 Established Secndary - $800 Established Elementary - $400 f) Advancement Awards Advancement Awards t the reginal and state turnaments will be awarded in equal amunts per team fr thse teams that advance. All advancement awards are cntingent upn available funding. 1 The testing windw fr the state required summative assessments fr 2017-18 have been annunced spanning a windw frm the week f April 9 t the week f May 21. A link t the M-Step Testing Calendar can be fund at: https://www.michigan.gv/dcuments/mde/3- Year_Calendar_002_517993_7.pdf. These dates verlap with the FIRST Rbtics schedule, including the Michigan State Champinship and the Wrld Champinship. In rder t receive the advancement award, it is required fr students t participate in the Champinships. It is suggested that districts and teams wrk tgether t ensure student participatin in bth testing and the advancement events. 7
GRANT APPLICATIONS: Grant applicatins will be made available via MEGS+ and mnitred by the Educatinal Technlgy Unit staff within the Office f P-20 Data and Infrmatin Management. Public (ISDs, LEAs, and PSAs) districts submitting an applicatin fr mre than ne team in the district - whether fr multiple FTC teams, FRC teams, FLL teams, FLL Jr. teams, r a cmbinatin f the FIRST team prgressin - shall submit a single district-wide applicatin adding a separate page fr each team. Each team is required t submit a team page and spnsr page within a single MEGS+ district applicatin. Nnpublic schl districts submitting an applicatin will select either t apply fr either FIRST Rbtics r Science Olympiad Prgramming, but nt bth. Nnpublic schls will als submit a single district-wide applicatin adding a separate page fr each team. Step-by-step instructins fr cmpleting the MEGS+ applicatin can be fund at www.techplan.rg/rdi. Applicatin Requirements: Team name and full permanent team number. Teams with a temprary team number at the time f applicatin shuld enter the full temprary number. Name and cntact infrmatin (email address and phne number) f team cach. Agree t cntribute a match f at least 25 percent f the Stipend Award and Advancement Award and 50 percent f the Supprt Award. The required match may be in the frm f cash r the fair market value f in-kind dnatins frm any f the fllwing surces, including but nt limited t: the schl district, ther grants, and dnatins frm crprate partnerships r individuals. Name and classificatin f ne FIRST team spnsr. Business Higher Educatin Institute Technical Schl Individual District-wide cumulative spending plan. A sample can be fund at www.techplan.rg. OPENING AND CLOSING DATES: Grant applicatins will be available in MEGS+ n September 26, 2017, and are due by 11:59 p.m. n Nvember 6, 2017. ASSURANCE OF ACCURACY: P.A. 108 f 2017, Sectin 99h f FY State Schl Aid Act 8
Staff Prpsed Assurances: Full cach s stipend awarded t the district must be used slely t supplement FIRST Rbtics team cach s salary. Supprt awards must be used slely fr FIRST team registratin and ther FIRST-related team expenses, such as purchase cmpetitin kits, supplies and materials, and any ther expenses related t supprt f the team verall. Each FLL Jr. team n the applicatin agrees t participate in a minimum f ne FIRST in Michigan Exp. Each FLL team n the applicatin agrees t participate in a minimum f ne FIRST in Michigan FLL qualifying event. Each FTC team n the applicatin agrees t participate in a minimum f ne FIRST in Michigan FTC qualifying event. Each FRC team n the applicatin agrees t participate in at least tw FIRST in Michigan FRC qualifying district events in the 2017-18 schl year. If a upper elementary FLL team, middle schl FTC team r high schl FRC team qualifies fr the State, Super-Reginal, r Wrld cmpetitins, the team must participate in the cmpetitins t be awarded the advancement grant. By submitting FIRST Rbtics Grant applicatin in MEGS+, the district agrees that all infrmatin prvided is true and accurate. If it is fund that infrmatin is incrrect, the MDE reserves the right t rescind funding awarded under Sectin 99h, FY 2017-18 State Schl Aid. Legislative Assurances: Each team receiving funding must prvide a lcal match in the frm f in-kind services r funding frm ther surces equal t at least 25% fr the Cach s Stipend Award and the Advancement Award and at least 50% f the Supprt Award. PROCESS FOR THE GRANT COMPETITION: Key Dates* September 14, 2017 Grant RFP is annunced via eblast mem September 26, 2017.Applicatin is live in MEGS+ September 27, 2017 Technical Assistance Webinar at 1 p.m.** Nvember 6, 2017.Applicatins due at 11:59pm in MEGS+ Nvember 8, 2017.Grant applicatins reviews December 20, 2017 Awards made via SAMS *All dates subject t change at the discretin f the MDE. **The webinar URL is http://remc.adbecnnect.cm/first-ta/ and the audi dial-in phne number is 1-888-808-6929, access cde 8105360. 9
REJECTION OF PROPOSALS: The MDE reserves the right t reject any applicatins received as a result f this grant prgram annuncement. REVIEW PROCESS, CRITERIA, AND REVIEWERS: The MDE utilizes a review panel when scring its cmpetitive grants. Fr this grant prgram, review teams will be cmpsed f peple frm within and utside the MDE as needed, with expertise in FIRST Rbtics and Science Olympiad. MDE staff will supervise the review prcess. An administrative review will be cnducted by MDE prir t funding and at the end f the seasn t ensure all teams meet the grant requirements. LENGTH OF AWARD: All funds awarded as part f FY2017 f State Schl Aid, Sectin 99h must be used in full by September 30, 2018. INDIRECT CHARGES: State law des nt allw indirect charges n State Schl Aid funds. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Payments fr the Cach Stipend Awards and Supprt Awards will be scheduled fr December 20, 2017, via SAMS. Funding fr Advancement Awards will be scheduled fr May 2018 at the discretin f the Educatinal Technlgy Unit in crdinatin with members f FIRST Leadership. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: The MDE and FIRST in Michigan have wrked tgether t prvide supplementary resurces fr grant applicants. They include, but are nt limited t a Frequently Asked Questins (FAQ) dcument, a template spending plan, and State Cntinuing Educatin Clck Hurs instructins and lg. These resurces can be fund at www.techplan.rg/rdi. Additinal infrmatin regarding the cntinuum f FIRST Rbtics prgramming in Michigan, visit www.firstinmichigan.rg/. Additinal infrmatin regarding the Science Olympiad Prgram can be fund at http://miscily.rg/. 10