Michigan Educators can use their hours spent in FIRST (but not during the competitions) to satisfy their continuing education requirements. Please see below.  Please Note: SCECH logs must be submitted by June 1, 2026 Best Regards, Gail Alpert President, FIRST in Michigan 248-425-4148 gail@firstinmichigan.org ———- Forwarded message ——— From: MDE-EDTech <MDE-EDTech@michigan.gov> Date: Mon, May 18, 2026 at 3:48 PM Subject: SCECH Information for Coaches To: MDE-EDTech <MDE-EDTech@michigan.gov> Hello Program Providers,   We hope everyone is well. This is a reminder that Michigan educators serving as coaches for the Robotics Competition Grant can earn State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) by submitting a Robotics Competition Grant SCECH application. TheseRead More →

99h State Grant Awards Announced The MDE State Grant 99h Awards have been announced! A simplified spreadsheet showing FIRST team awards by district is available below: Key Things to Know About the Spreadsheet: Only FIRST team awards are listed. The $1,500 stipend per building may need to be shared with non-FIRST teams. All awards were reduced proportionally due to limited funding: Public schools: 61.89% of maximum Non-public schools: 65.7% of maximum The spreadsheet includes: One tab for public schools One tab for non-public schools Link to the Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gbYgSlbj0anpc8LMSOaMWVdd1YqHY8j-q_qKhfFVT74/edit?gid=0#gid=0 Payment Info: Funds will be distributed in April Payments will appear in your district’s monthly school aid payment, not by check. Look for it under Line 99h on the statement that accompanies the SchoolRead More →

As we do every season, we will have a Zoom call on Cool Careers in STEM based on the theme of the FIRST season. We’ve lined up some great speakers on Archaeology and the technology they use! Please pass along to your students, mentors, and their families to join us for this roundtable discussion on archaeology: Link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84787051403?pwd=RQeP6MM8coyq4DoLm7eNVHod6EYb9N.1Read More →

TOPICS IN TODAY’S E-BLAST Team Volunteer Requirements for the 2026 Season Lottery for a $500 Third Event Kettering Pre-Competition Events 1. TEAM VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT FOR ALL TEAMS (LOTTERY AND NON-LOTTERY TEAMS) Each team must provide volunteers to staff two roles for two days at each event they attend. Students, PARENTS, FRIENDS, ALUMNI, and SCHOOL STAFF, all count toward this.  2026 Rookies need to staff only role both days at their events. Any Role Except Judging Your team volunteers can pick any open role except Judging. We don’t allow team coaches, students, mentors, parents, or anyone related to the team, or related to students on the team, to beRead More →

For anyone choosing to build the KitBot this season, the FIRST in Michigan Step-by-Step KitBot videos are live on the FIRST in Michigan website! They will walk you through every step of the build, including coding, testing, and bumpers! You will find them under FRC resources: https://firstinmichigan.us/FRC/2026-kit-bot/ I hope you have a GREAT season! Best Regards, Gail Alpert President, FIRST in Michigan 248-425-4148 gail@firstinmichigan.orgRead More →

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 theRead More →

I am excited to share that the MDE Grant (99h) is back. We are in the budget at a slightly higher amount than last year! Non-pubs are in again at the same number. I want to thank everyone who sent notes or spoke with their legislators.  You helped them understand the importance of this grant to our robotics teams and to Michigan’s future workforce. If you’d like to send a quick thank-you email to those you’ve sent letters to, that would be fantastic! As soon as the MDE releases the timeline for applying, I’ll send it along to you. KIT OPT OUT For those of you who respondedRead More →

I NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN TODAY. In July, I asked for your help in writing letters to your legislators to make sure our State Grant continued. The state received over 14,000 emails from FIRST teams!!  That was AMAZING. Once again, we need to FLOOD each legislator’s inbox and voicemail urging them to support the 99h Robotics grant. BUDGET DECISIONS ARE IMMINENT.  So, even if you did it in July, please email and call your legislators today. IT’S EASY, JUST USE THIS LINK: https://fim-email-campaign-0eb9a85aeb40.herokuapp.com/ We have made this process super simple for you by creating personalized letters that you can copy and paste into an email to send toRead More →

SEPT 19, 2025 – TOPICS COVERED Link to HOME EVENT ASSIGNMENTS Change of Password Required to Access Your Dashboard Registering for FRC Vs. All other FIRST Programs Detailed Explanation on the FRC Event Selection Process Option to Opt Out of Certain Totes Select a Kickoff While Preferencing Leftover MDE Funds from the 2024-25 Season Must be Spent by Sept 30 MDE 99h Grant Info Not Available Yet New Kettering/GMI Alumni Association Grant for Teams LINK TO HOME EVENT ASSIGNMENTS home event picks are 320 out of 453 or 70.64% HOME EVENT ASSIGNMENTS BY TEAM SUMMARY OF OPEN SLOTS BY EVENT AT BEGINNING OF ROUND 1Read More →

The Michigan House and Senate are working on the budget that includes our 99h Robotics grant TONIGHT. We need to FLOOD each legislator’s inbox with a letter urging them to support our grant. They leave for 3 weeks after today.  PLEASE DO THIS TONIGHT OR TOMORROW IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.  We have made this process super simple for you by creating personalized letters that you can simply copy and paste into an email to send to your legislators. Just use this link: https://fim-email-campaign-0eb9a85aeb40.herokuapp.com/ Then, please ask everyone you know to do the same. Over 1250 FIRST supporters have already sent letters. But we need yours too! Together, we can ensure that ourRead More →