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

Section 67. (a) The department of education, hereinafter referred to as the department, shall establish a grant program, subject to appropriation, to be known as the elementary and secondary robotics grant program for the purpose of providing grants to assist school districts, Horace Mann and commonwealth charter schools with the development of STEM and robotics programs in schools. The grants shall be used to help students succeed academically and attend colleges with a major in science, technology, engineering and math. The grants shall help prepare students for a workforce in STEM and robotics. The grants shall also encourage voluntary expansion of existing STEM and robotics programs in the commonwealth. The department shall develop guidelines governing the grant program and guidelines for implementation of said program.  

(b) Applicants shall be commonwealth school districts, Horace Mann and commonwealth charter schools. Schools without a sponsored robotics club or established robotics program shall be given preference for grant awards. Priority shall be given to schools located in the following counties: Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Bristol, Barnstable and Dukes. 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, or approved by the commissioner.

(c) The commissioner shall evaluate annually programs established under this section including the potential for replicating such programs throughout the commonwealth. The commissioner shall also provide technical assistance to school districts seeking to replicate programs funded under said section.