Chapter 15 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 67. (a) There is hereby established within the department a grant program to increase robotics and STEM participation in public and charter schools. The purpose of the program is to provide a platform for elementary and secondary students in public and charter schools to learn the disciplines to help them achieve higher test scores, attend and graduate college with a major in science, technology, engineering and math and be prepared for a workforce demanding knowledge in those areas. The program shall be known as the elementary and secondary school robotics grant program and shall be funded by the department.

(b) The department shall award program grants to public and charter elementary and secondary schools on the following basis:

(i) Applicants shall be a public or charter elementary or secondary school in the state. Schools without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program shall be given preference for grant awards; provided however, that schools located in the Cape Cod and Western Massachusetts school catchment area shall have priority for such grants;

(ii) Applicants shall commit to running a team registered with one of the following organizations: FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Lego League Explore, FIRST Lego League Challenge, VEX Robotics Competition, VEX IQ Challenge or Science Olympiad; and

(iii) Applications shall be submitted to the department by June first of each year for grants to be made for the following academic year.

(c) The department shall grant awards to eligible schools in the following amount:

(i) elementary schools:

(A) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $1,250 for a FIRST Lego League Challenge program and $590 for an FIRST Lego League Explore Team;

(B) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $750 for a FIRST Lego League Challenge program and $370 for an FIRST Lego League Explore Team;

(C) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $490 for a Science Olympiad Team;

(D) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $435 for a Science Olympiad Team.

(ii) middle schools:

(A) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $4,000 for a FIRST Tech Challenge Team

(B) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $3,000 for a FIRST Tech Challenge Team;

(C) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $1,280 for a VEX IQ Challenge Team;

(D) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $700 for a VEX IQ Challenge Team;

(E) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $490 for a Science Olympiad Team;

(F) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $435 for a Science Olympiad Team.

(iii) high schools:

(A) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $18,000 for a FIRST Robotics Competition Team;

(B) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $15,000 for a FIRST Robotics Competition Team;

(C) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $1,700 for a VEX Robotics Competition Team;

(D) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $700 for a VEX Robotics Competition Team;

(E) without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $490 for a Science Olympiad Team;

(F) with a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program: $435 for a Science Olympiad Team.

(d) Program grant awards shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose and based on availability of funds.

(e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this program.