05.16.25 Team Eblast

SCECHs  l  Key Season Dates  l  Team Registration Opens 5/14  l  Rookie Team Grants  l   99h State Grant Update  l  HQ Program Feedback  l  2025-26 FTC Season Kickoff  l  DECODE Game Elements

SCECHs FOR EDUCATORS – JUNE 1 DEADLINE

SCECH stands for State Continuing Education Clock Hours. These are credits earned by educators for participating in approved professional development activities, like coaching a FIRST Robotics team. They are used to renew and progress various teaching certificates and licenses. Use the steps below to complete the log sheet and submit to the MDE by June 1st. This is administered by the MDE and not FIRST in Michigan.

  1. 2024-25 Robotics Coach log sheet: Download the linked log sheet and complete https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d9oxJguF-zuvPVnJL9LXQFoZ7p9O43e93K88iYbaH-s/edit?gid=347157989#gid=347157989
  2. Email your completed log to the MDE by June 1, 2025. Please send to MDE-EdTech@michigan.gov using the subject line of “2024-25 99h Robotics Coach log”
UPCOMING KEY DATES
  • May 14, 2025: 2025-2026 season opens for team registration.
  • Sept. 6, 2025: 2025-2026 FTC Season Kickoff
  • Oct. 1, 2025 – Round 1 Event Registration Opens (anticipated)
  • Oct. 27, 2025: Earliest Event Date for League Meets or Qualifying Tournaments
  • Anticipated FiM FTC States Dates:
    • Dec. 12-13, 2025:  FIM FTC States-NW, Muskegon
    • Dec. 13-14, 2025:  FiM FTC States-SE, Grand Blanc
      • Macomb Comm. College’s Sports & Expo Center will be undergoing renovation and will be closed during our usual States timeframe.
2025-26 SEASON REGISTRATION OPEN

Team registration for the 2025-26 season is open! The $325 FIRST HQ season registration fee can be paid via the FTC Storefront accessible from the Team Dashboard through firstinspires.org. HQ has increased the season reg fee by $30 this season.

It is key to register your team right away so that enough events are planned in support. Teams must be fully registered for the current season in order to register for FiM FTC competitions.

Returning Teams

Returning Teams (veterans) – Returning teams register with their existing team number. Check the MI Archive FTC Team List (tab 1 & 2) for a list of historical team numbers.Veteran Team Registration Guide – contains screenshots of the process.

    • Take care of “Outstanding Tasks” on your Dashboard
      • Update the Team Profile, update team contacts as needed, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must electronically sign the season’s FIRST Consent/Release form and check that their FIRST Youth Protection Screening is up to date.
      • Instruct any departing team contacts (Team Admin, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2) to invite their replacements.

New Teams (Rookies)

New Teams (rookies) – FIRST HQ will again offer their FTC Rookie Team Grant for newly forming teams that meet their grant criteria. This grant works with the FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant to 100% cover a newly forming FTC team’s first season registration fee and reusable kit of parts purchase.

Visit the FiM FTC START A TEAM https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/start-a-team/ site page for the steps to follow to maximize available grants. Remember, do not pay for anything yet until an award decision from the FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant is received.

  • FiM FTC Rookie Grant specifics:
    • All past team numbers out of a given school must be registered for the current season before a newly forming team is eligible for the grant.
    • New teams must apply for the FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant first.

LOOKING TO START A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL FTC TEAM?

Start a new middle school FTC team in just 3 steps: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/start-a-team/. Please pass this info along to area schools that currently don’t have teams, along with my contact info! Flyer to share: Middle School FTC New Team Grants. New teams affiliated with an MDE-recognized school (public and non-public) maximize the use of available grants.

Veteran teams out of the same school must be registered for the current season before a new team can be eligible for rookie team grants.
FIRST FTC HQ SEEKING PROGRAM FEEDBACK

FIRST FTC HQ is seeking feedback from teams on a variety of topics. Visit the 5.14.25 FIRST FTC HQ Blog post: https://community.firstinspires.org/first-tech-challenge-community-we-want-your-thoughts and scroll down to the survey link.

This is your chance to share your ideas and suggestions on a variety of topics such as Advancement, Judging Processes and Awards, Robot Construction Rules, etc.

99h STATE GRANT REMITTANCES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Non-public school affiliated teams that were awarded the 99h state grant should now be receiving their award remittances. Please reach out to the MDE at MDE-EdTech@michigan.gov if you have questions regarding 99h grant awards.

99h FUNDING USAGE DEADLINE, SEPT. 30
  • Teams awarded the 99h MDE State Grant: Per legislation, any awarded funds for the 2024-25 season must be expended by September 30, 2025. Team Award funds can only be used by the team to which they were awarded. This grant is administered by the MDE and not FIRST in Michigan. Reach out to your fiscal partner regarding accessing awarded funds. 99h grant awards are posted at this link: https://www.techplan.org/edtech-initiatives/rdi/competitive-99h-robotics-competition-grant/.
    • Ways to use leftover funding:
      • Pay the team’s 2025-2026 FIRST HQ season registration fee of $325 (new amount) as early as May 14th.
      • Pre-order a set of the season’s game elements through AndyMark.
      • Purchase items from the team’s “wish list” like extra batteries, linear slides, swerve drive components, etc.
  • Teams that were awarded a 99h state grant but did not satisfy the 2024-25 FTC competition participation requirement (participate in one FiM FTC event in 2024-25), the MDE will no longer roll over awarded 99h grant funds into the next season. In this case, the MDE will defund the amount of the 99h grant award for that team. The team will still be eligible to apply for the 2025-26 99h state grant.
  • The 99h state grant is moving through the state budget legislative process. Current status is that it has been included in the Governor’s and House versions of the budget with a $1.5 million increase in the House version. Next will come the Senate version, then Committee Conference to resolve differences.
FTC “DECODE” SEASON KICKOFF SEPT. 6th

The 2025-20256 FTC season will officially kickoff on Sept. 6, 12:00PM (noon) with the reveal of the season’s new game DECODE! This season’s overarching theme is FIRST AGE, with archaeology-based challenges. In DECODE, FTC teams will investigate the power of the world’s artifacts and unlock mysteries. I’m already “digging” this new game!

There will be kickoff events in various locations around the state. While attending a kickoff event is optional, these events often offer workshops, info sessions, and can feature a “reveal” of the DECODE official playing field! Plus, the opportunity to connect to your local FIRST community!! The EVENTS FiM FTC site page will be updated with kickoff events as they are added.

DECODE GAME SET PRE-ORDER THROUGH ANDYMARK

Teams looking to spend down 2024-25 grant funds or those wanting to get ahead of the “game”, AndyMark is accepting pre-orders for DECODE full or partial sets of game elements: https://www.andymark.com/categories/first-tech-challenge-2025-2026-decode. Pre-orders will ship after kickoff on Sept. 6th.

Teams will also be able to order DECODE game sets (full and partial) through the FTC Storefront beginning Sept. 6th but the FTC Storefront will not accept pre-orders. The cost of game sets has gone down this season!

  • Full Set: $485
  • Partial Set (red or blue): $250
  • Prices do not include shipping/handling