SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1085        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John C. Velis

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1085        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 360 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

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

Section 67. (a) At this time, a grant program has been established to increase robotics and STEM participation in public and charter schools. The program's purpose is to provide a platform for elementary and secondary students in public and charter schools to learn hard and soft skills, including public speaking, leadership, time and team management, problem-solving, creativity, hardware, and software, to enter the workforce. The program shall be known as the Workforce Preparation 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 a 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 a 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 the availability of funds. 

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