10.18.19 Team Eblast

MDE Grant Update l 2nd Round Event Confirmation  l  3rd Round Event Registration l  Advancement l  Program Info

MDE FIRST Robotics Grant Update

Great news!  The MDE FIRST Robotics State Grant was approved as part of the state budget process with an increase to $4.7 million for FIRST Robotics teams affiliated with an MDE recognized public school/charter/academy.  At this time, nonpublic schools are not eligible applicants for the current year’s funding but are eligible applicants for the 2018-19 work project funding (roll over funds from prior year).

The 2019-2020 award structure for eligible FTC teams:

  • $2,000 – Rookie FIRST Tech Challenge Teams
  • $1,000 – Veteran FIRST Tech Challenge Teams
  • $1,500 for a Middle School FIRST Tech Challenge team (limit one middle school program stipend per school)

Due to the late approval of the budget, the grant will be on an accelerated timeline. Key dates:

The application will be accessible to a school/school district’s “Level 5” designated employees (usually the superintendent/principal/finance dept.). The “Level 5” will submit a single grant application on behalf of all the FIRST teams (all programs) in the school/district. Having your team affiliated with and recognized by an MDE recognized school/charter/academy is key to accessing this funding opportunity.  Details on funding levels can be found on the MDE site page for the grant: https://www.techplan.org/rdi/first-robotics/. The Request for Proposal (RFP) can be accessed via this link:  https://www.techplan.org/downloads/pdfs/2019-20_first_robotics_rfp.pdf.

It is required that a team is fully registered for the 2019-2020 season ($275 FTC season registration fee is paid) as part of the award consideration criteria. Participation in a FIRST in Michigan FTC competition in the 2019-2020 season is a requirement of the grant.

2nd Round FTC Event Registration

2nd Round FTC Event confirmations have been posted. Reminder that teams do not see their confirmed events on the FIRST Team Dashboard. Event confirmations can be found on the MI FTC Team List. Put your team number in the search box then click on the “+” sign to expand the toggle box.

If your 2nd event placement looks like it is error (i.e. doesn’t match any of your team’s ranked preferences), please email michiganftc@gmail.com. Almost 300 placements were made and errors can occur. Including your team number in the subject line of your communication, along with a generous dose of gracious professionalism, is much appreciated.

If your team is listed as a “waitlist” for a 2nd Round Event placement, the event(s) for which your team submitted the form was at capacity at the time your team’s form was processed. Forms are processed on the first come-first served basis based on the form’s date/timestamp. Waitlisted teams are encouraged to consider alternative event choices as there is usually very limited movement out of events, especially week 5 (12/07) events.  Waitlisted teams (only) can provide alternative open 2nd event choices by submitted another 2nd Round FTC Event Registration form. Only waitlisted team submissions will be considered.

Events with open spots: The number of open spots is indicated after the event name.

Week 1:
11/02-Auburn Hills – 24
11/02-Kentwood – 2
11/02-Petoskey – 14

Week 2:
11/09-Bedford – 21
11/09-Canton – 4
11/09-Richland – 4
11/09-Troy – 3

Week 3:
11/16-Howell 1 – 6
11/16-Sterling Hts. – 5
11/17-Howell 2 – 22

Week 4:
11/23-Constantine – 6
11/23-Oxford 1 – 1
11/24-Oxford 2 – 4

Reminder that the 2nd Round Event Registration form (link) is still open for submissions. This form might not resolve well on a small screen i.e. phone.

A few key 2nd Round Event Registration points:
  • Participating in a 2nd qualifier is optional for teams.
  • A team’s “2nd round” qualifier could chronologically occur before a team’s “1st round” qualifier.
  • Second qualifier events are populated on a first come-first served basis until an event’s capacity is reached. Later events fill faster than early events.
  • The home event placement carries the only guarantee that multiple teams out of the same school/org. can be placed at the same event due to the space constraints inherent to 2nd event placement.
  • Teams will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice. The more choices are given, the more likely the team will be able to be placed in a 2nd round event. Providing limited choices could result in a team not being placed in a 2nd qualifier.
  • Selecting an event that is at capacity will waitlist a team for that event. Once an event reaches capacity, any subsequent selections for that event will be waitlisted.
  • FTC does not use the Team Dashboard for event registration nor will a team’s confirmed events be listed on the Team Dashboard. Confirmed event assignments will be posted on the MI FTC Team List.
3rd Round FTC Event Registration

A 3rd Round Event Registration form will be opened on Monday, October 21, at 7:00 a.m. This round is optional to teams and will operate similarly to the 2nd Round event registration. The events with remaining open spots will be available for 3rd round event registration.

Link: 3rd Round FTC Event Registration Form (click to open link).

Advancement to FIRST in Michigan FTC State Championship

FIRST in Michigan will adhere to the FIRST mandated FIRST Tech Challenge Advancement Criteria. The criteria can be found in Game Manual 1. FIRST in Michigan opts-out of the qualifier host team advancement spot criteria.

Teams are eligible for advancement at any one of the first three tournaments they participate in at a given level (qualifier, league tournament, championship) regardless of the region. A team that earns an advancement spot at a given level is not eligible for an advancement spot at other events at that same level. The team is still eligible to receive all awards at any one of their first three tournaments except the Inspire Award. Teams that have won the Inspire Award at another event of the same level, regardless of the region, cannot be considered for the Inspire Award or as an Inspire Award Finalist at additional events at that level.

 A list of advancement allocations by event along with each qualifier’s FTC States advancement location is posted on the FIRST in Michigan FTC website’s EVENT REGISTRATION process site page under the ADVANCEMENT section.  Details of the event registration process can be found on this site page. A list of events for the season can be found on the EVENTS site page.
REGISTER YOUR TEAM

Teams must be officially registered for the 2019-2020 season with FIRST HQ in order to be confirmed for events.

The registration guides linked below contain info on establishing a FIRST Account, setting up a team profile, inviting contacts, applying for screening, accessing the Storefront, etc. with screenshots. A quick reference guide for Team Dashboard tasks like inviting contacts, navigating the FTC Storefront is linked: Team Dashboard Guide.

  • Returning Teams (veterans) – remember to register using your existing team number. MI FTC Archived Team Lists
  • New Teams (rookies) – start the team registration process but DO NOT PAY for anything until applying for the FIRST FTC HQ Rookie Team Grant. Apply for this grant using your temporary team number which starts with “2019”.
    • Rookie Team Registration Guide
    • See rookie team grant requirements outlined below before paying for anything.
    • Team Name is a mandatory field when setting up the Team Profile. If your team does not have a name yet, just fill in TBD. You can update this field at a later time once a team name is chosen.
EXPLORE GRANTS

Visit the FIRST in Michigan GRANTS website page for the latest available grant opportunities. Key elements for most grants:

  • Teams must be comprised solely of middle school grade team members.
  • Affiliated with a school or established youth enrichment 501(c)(3) organization. A school affiliation maximizes the use of available grants.
  • Must compete in a FIRST in Michigan sanctioned event in the given season.
  • Rookie team grants:
    • New teams are eligible for rookie grants when all existing team(s) out of the same school/organization are registered for the current season.
    • Team must apply for the FIRST (HQ) FTC Rookie Team Grant to be eligible for the FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant.
    • The intent of the rookie team grant funding is to assist a new team with their initial start up costs (FTC registration fee and reusable kit of parts).
    • Team members and mentors may move through the program but the team number and kit of parts stay with the school/organization for reuse year to year.
PARTS & EQUIPMENT
  • SKYSTONE game elements are available for pre-order from AndyMark.
  • Veteran teams are able but not required to purchase FTC Kit of Parts components through the FTC Storefront. Storefront purchases are limited to once per season per component category.
  • Discount codes for REV and Pitsco are available through the FTC Storefront. From the FTC Storefront, click on the “SUPPORT” link on the top right corner. Once redirected, scroll down the site page and click on “How to Order Extra Parts” link in the leftmost sidebar. REV offers a 15% discount and Pitsco offers 25%.
PROGRAM INFORMATION

Links to program information on the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) and FIRST HQ websites:

  • Run a Team – Addresses many FAQs
  • Resources – Links to FIRST HQ resources, parts, and vendors, logos, etc.
  • Grants – information will be updated as grants become available; check back periodically
  • Team Eblast Archive
  • FIRST FTC HQ Blog – latest program announcements
  • FTC Curriculum – Free curriculum; can be used as a stand-alone course or as a supplement to areas where the team needs extra support.
PROGRAM PARTICULARS
  • Alignment: In Michigan, we run a slightly different progression of programs from FIRST national. In Michigan, FTC is a middle school only program with teams comprised solely of MI middle school aged/grade team members. Teams must be properly aligned in order to be eligible for FiM FTC grants and to participate in FIRST in Michigan FTC events.
  • Team Size: FTC team size is capped at 15. Multiple teams out of a given school/organization are welcome and can be eligible for all grants. Please review grant requirements in the above linked doc.
  • Team Eblasts. FIRST in Michigan FTC team eblasts (sent from michiganftc@gmail.com) are sent to the Team Administrator and Lead Coach 1 and 2 for each team. The eblast distribution list is pulled from the FIRST Team Registration System, per FIRST HQ protocol, so additional email addresses cannot be added to the FIRST in Michigan FTC eblast list.