MDE 99h STATE GRANT IS OPEN IN NEXSYS
CLOSES: NOON ON FEBRUARY 9, 2026
SEND THIS EMAIL TO YOUR LEVEL 5 RIGHT AWAY (the only person in the district who can initiate and submit grants in NexSys) to help them fill out the grant properly. You usually find them in the Superintendent’s office or the Business office.
If not, this is an old list of Level 5’s (2023-24) by district. The person(s) listed may still be there.
THE APPLICATION CHANGED THIS SEASON
The Grant application changed this season. It is important to use the resources provided by the MDE. They are excellent and brief this year. These two links have the same resources:
These include:
1. The RFP
2. Written and video application instructions (EXCELLENT- MUST VIEW)
3. FAQ’s
Review these first. Then visit FIM’s Step-by-Step Guide to filling out the MDE grant, which contains a list of Max Awards along with some great tools, including a list of ALL Michigan FIRST teams, a Sample 99h Input Sheet. You will also find a Blank Input Sheet you can fill in and give to your Level 5 after gathering all you data.
BIGGEST CHANGES IN THE APP
1. Layout and Organization: Rather than being organized by team, the app is organized around the BUILDING (school) and the teams in that building.
2. Info no longer needed: You don’t have to provide coach info or sponsor/partner info on the application. You are still required to have a sponsor, though.
BUDGET SPECIFICS: (info for your Level 5)
General Budget Info
1. Each building will have one line/item, and only one, for the max stipend. Nothing higher.
2. Each team will have one line/item, and only one, for the maximum support award. Nothing higher.
3. A team is a “ROOKIE” only during it’s very first year.
Language for “Description” in Support Award:
1. Don’t specify what you will use the money for. Just type in the following, replacing the underlined items with your team info:
“Support Award for FRC Team 1111 at Nightingale High School”
Note the acronyms for our programs:
FRC = FIRST Robotics Competition (high school program)
FTC = FIRST Tech Challenge (middle school program)
FLLC = FIRST LEGO League Challenge (late elementary)
FLLE = FIRST LEGO League Explore (early elementary K-3)
FLLD = FIRST LEGO League Discover ( preschool and early K)
Language for “Description” in Stipend Award:
Just type in the following, replacing the underlined item with your building name:
“Stipend Award for Nightingale High School“
I don’t know if or when FIM will get a report from the MDE this season to check for errors and see who has not yet applied, so please be sure to use the resources, especially those from the MDE.
They told us they will not allow modifications AFTER the grant closes. So please apply early.
If you have any issues, send an email to:
Best Regards,
