Bill > A2455

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in the Department of Education to establish FIRST Robotics Teams in school districts. The purpose of the pilot program will be to (1) increase opportunities for students to participate in FIRST Robotics Competitions; (2) motivate students to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (3) improve students' knowledge in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit an application to the commissioner. The school district will select no more than one school serving students from grades nine through 12 to participate in the pilot program. The commissioner will select up to 12 school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner will award grants, within the limit of available State appropriations, to selected school districts to be used to support the development and implementation of a FIRST Robotics program in the selected schools. The commissioner will determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program and may award multi-year grants. Grants may be used by school districts to provide coaching stipends, purchase materials for competitions, finance competition travel expenses, and register for events. School districts selected to participate in the pilot program may apply for additional funding as teams in the school district become eligible to participate in FIRST Robotics Program's district, district championship, and world championship events. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The report will contain information on the implementation of the pilot program, the number of students participating in the program, and the recommendations of the commissioner on continuing, expanding, or modifying the program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Wayne DeAngelo (D)*,  Linda Greenstein (D)*,  Steven Oroho (R)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Christopher Bateman (R),  Clinton Calabrese (D),  Linda Carter (D),  Herbert Conaway (D),  John DiMaio (R),  Serena DiMaso (R),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Eric Houghtaling (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Yvonne Lopez (D),  John McKeon (D),  Angela Mcknight (D),  Bill Moen (D),  Carol Murphy (D),  Erik Peterson (R),  Nellie Pou (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Parker Space (R),  Sterley Stanley (D),  Samuel Thompson (D),  Shirley Turner (D),  Harold Wirths (R),  Andrew Zwicker (D), 

Approved P.L.2021, c.320. (on 12/21/2021)

Official Document