Robotics Competition Grant

FY27 Important Application Resources

• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Application Instructions PDF
• Application Instructions Video 
• How to Find Your Sigma Vendor Code and Address ID (Nonpublic schools only)

FY27 Application Requirements

• All Robotics Competition Grant applications must be submitted to NexSys by December 1, 2026, at 12 PM (noon). Applications will not be reopened past the due date.
• All teams must be registered for the current robotics competition season with an MDE-approved program provider at the time of application. Upon review of applications, MDE and the program providers will verify team registration for eligibility.  
• Complete a cumulative spending plan for the requested award amount. 
• Agree to establish a partnership with at least one sponsor. This may include a business/nonprofit, a higher education institute, a technical school, or an individual.  
• Agree to provide a local in-kind or cash match from other private or local funds for at least 25% of the total award amount requested. 
• Provide an official team number for all teams listed on the application. 
• Have a robotics competition coach in place for the current season. 

Important Reminder

In accordance with the State of Michigan Identification and Authentication Standard, it is a security violation to share login credentials with others, even within the same entity/organization. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) reserves the right to inactivate any shared accounts, denying any future access to the system for any users sharing login credentials. Please review NexSys Security User Roles and Responsibilities on the NexSys webpage for more information. 

Eligible Applicants

• Intermediate school districts (ISDs), local education agencies (LEAs), both traditional public school districts and public school academies (PSAs), are eligible to apply.

• Nonpublic schools (Nonpubs) are eligible to apply if they are registered with MDE.

FY27 Entity Requirements

• Submit an application in a form and manner prescribed by the department.
• Establish a partnership with at least one sponsor, business entity, higher education institution, technical school, or individual. However, this partnership may not include the approved program provider or an individual that is the school principal, superintendent, or any other school administrator. 
• Provide a local in-kind or cash match from other private or local funds for at least 25% of the total cost of the Robotics Competition Grant award. 
• Be willing to provide relevant student participation information, as determined by the department, to program and competition providers.  
• Nonpublic school applicants must meet the same eligibility requirements as ISDs and LEAs. Additionally, nonpublic schools must be registered with MDE and adhere to all applicable state reporting requirements for nonpublic schools. To receive their award, nonpublic schools must have an active SIGMA Vendor Self-Service (VSS) account. For more information on creating an account, please visit the SIGMA VSS information webpage. 

FY27 Team Requirements

• The robotics competition team must consist of pre-K through 12 students who are enrolled in the applying LEA, PSA, ISD, or registered nonpublic school. Community teams are not eligible for Section 99h funding. Community teams are defined as robotics teams that consist of pre-K through 12 students who are not enrolled in the applying LEA, PSA, ISD, or nonpublic.
• Participate in robotics competition programs hosted by program providers approved by the department.  
• Within the current robotics season, participate in the minimum number of competitions as determined by an approved program provider. The minimum number of required competitions must occur during the current season and openly invite teams from other schools or school districts to compete.   
• Within the current robotics season, participate in at least one in-person competition registered with an approved program provider.  
• If funding is requested for more than one team for a building, the school district or nonpublic school is required to meet the minimum requirements for team size as determined by the approved program provider. 

Coach Stipends  

Applying school districts and nonpublic schools may request up to $1,500 per building. For buildings with multiple coaches, the entity may decide how best to divide the coaching stipends. 

Support Awards  

Covers event registrations, materials, travel costs, and other expenses associated with the preparation for and attendance at robotics events and competitions. Please see the Maximum Support Awards table located on the Request for Proposal (RFP) to review the maximum amount that may be requested per team based on team type. 

Eligible Support Award Expenses: 

• Events and team registration fees 
• Supplies and materials needed for competition
• Transportation costs 

Ineligible Support Award Expenses: 

• Administrative costs 
• Purchase of facilities, land, or renovations 
• Purchase of vehicles and trailers 
• Purchase of equipment or robots not associated with the preparation or participation in a robotics competition hosted by an MDE-approved robotics program provider 

Restrictions 

Awarded funds must only be used for each designated team’s expenses as written by the applicant in their submitted application. Awarded funds may not be redistributed among other teams or used for other expenses outside of this program.   

State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) 

Educators serving as coaches or mentors for the Robotics Competition Grant have the opportunity to earn SCECHs. These hours can be used for renewal and progression of certificates and licenses issued by MDE. 

Requirements to Earn SCECHs 

• Applications for SCECHs under the Robotics Competition Grant must be submitted by the educator serving as a coach or mentor. 
• Applicants must include their Personal Identification Code (PIC) within their application. Directions to determine your PIC are included in the application.  
• Applicants may only claim hours as a coach or mentor for teams that participated in the required number of competitions. 
• Time spent at competitions does not count toward SCECHs and should not be logged. 

SCECH Calculation 

For every ten hours of contact, one SCECH is awarded. A maximum number of 40 SCECHs can be awarded for robotics coaching. Time spent at competitions does not count toward SCECHs and should not be included in your log. 

1 SCECH = 10 hours of service 

2027 SCECH Log and Submission Form

Using the instructions below, please complete the Robotics Coaching SCECH Log linked below. Once your SCECH log is complete, please upload the log to your SCECH submission form by June 1, 2027. Please note, late SCECH logs will not be accepted via e-mail or after the due date.

• SCECH Log Instructions
• Robotics Coaching SCECH Log (.xlsx) 
• Robotics Coaching SCECH Submission Form (Due June 1, 2027)

Program Provider Requirements 

• Make all programs available to students in the state of Michigan regardless of geographical location. 
• Support MDE in verifying team eligibility for funding.
• Organize competitions that are registered and open to teams, ensuring teams from other schools and school districts are invited to participate. 
• Agree to aggregate relevant individual team competition data received by schools and school districts and provide this data to MDE as needed in a manner determined by MDE. 
• Submit registration information to the department, including any fees; pledge to post this information on the provider's website; and, by not later than January 1 of the current fiscal year, submit this information to the department for publication on this webpage.
• Program providers shall not work with MDE to set prices or policies for the program. 
• Adhere to any additional requirements set forth by MDE, including guidelines for competition advancement and participation. 

How to Become an Approved Program Provider 

• New Program Providers: To receive important information and next steps related to MDE-approval and the upcoming season, please E-mail MDE-EdTech@Michigan.gov.