FLL Program Updates

• We can finally share exciting new updates to the FLL program with you! You have possibly seen the announcement from FIRST, if not you can find it at the FIRST FLL Blog. We have been planning for the updated program and will lead our Michigan teams through these changes with full support.
• FIRST in Michigan will host a Zoom call tonight for any Michigan FLL coaches who would like to learn more about and discuss FIRST in Michigan’s implementation of the Future Edition of the FLL program. The link to the session is in the email blast sent to all coaches. We will have more sessions scheduled in coming weeks as well as additional emails with information, but felt it was important to have a place for those coaches/team admins who wanted to discuss the changes as soon as they were announced. The call will not be recorded.
• Please note that the current Michigan Progression of Programs will not change, and FLL will continue to be an elementary program in Michigan.

MDE Grant Information

• The 99h state grant is open for application! The grant application must be submitted before 12pm noon on February 9, 2026.
• The grant is administered by the Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE) and not FIRST in Michigan.
• Eligibility
  • Any MDE recognized public or non-public school/district may apply for the grant on behalf of all the FIRST teams in their school/district. This includes public charters, academies, and ISD’s (with some stipulations on ISD offerings).
  • Teams must be registered for the 2025-26 season before February 9th to be considered for the grant (FIRST HQ reg fee paid). Participating in an official FIRST in Michigan organized event satisfies the competition requirement for the grant.
• 99h FLLC grant award maximum amounts:
  • Rookie Team: Up to $1,100 team support
  • Veteran Team: Up to $500 team support
  • Coach stipend: Up to $1,500 (cap of one stipend per building across programs).
• GRANT RESOURCES – Please share with your Level 5.
  • General information:
    • The 99h state grant application is available through the MI Dept. of Education’s NexSys grant system. The application name is: 99h- Robotics Competition Grant.
    • The application is accessible by the district’s/school’s Level 5 person. This is usually someone in the business or Supt. office.
    • ALL robotics teams in the district (or school) go on the one application.
    • Teams not yet registered for the season must pay the FIRST HQ season registration fee before February 9th to be eligible for grant consideration.
  • Visit the MDE’s 99h State Grant website page (new link this season):
    • https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/financial-management/grants/oset-grants/99h—robotics
    • Resources include:
      • Robotics Competition Grant Application Instructions – Very useful
      • Robotics Competition Grant Technical Assistance Recording – a MUST WATCH walkthrough of the grant application.
      • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
      • Robotics Competition Grant Request for Proposal (RFP)
  • FiM provided resource: FiM 99h Grant Step by Step Guide (link).
    • Please review. This is a very useful doc to share with your Level 5. Includes:
      • List of Level 5s by building (as of 2023-24; dated but it’s a starting place)
      • Grant worksheets to gather info to share with your Level 5
      • List of FiM teams across all programs by district/school
      • Info to provide to your Level 5
  • 99h application changes to note:
    • The application is organized differently this season. The information is reported at the building level.
      • BUILDING PAGES: One building per page A single building on top (this is for the stipend, since it’s limited to $1,500 per building. List of all teams housed within that building. Add an additional “page” for each additional building in the district that has teams.
      • BUDGET PAGE includes all of the teams from all buildings. Enter only one line on the budget for each building for stipend award. Enter only one line on the budget for each team’s support award
    • Sponsor information is no longer captured on the application. It is still a requirement of the grant, per legislation, that applicants establish a partnership with at least one sponsor.
      • Applying ISDs, LEAs, and Nonpubs must establish a partnership with at least one sponsor. This may include a business entity, higher education institution, technical school, or an individual.

Participation Reminder

• In Michigan, we run a slightly different progression of programs from FIRST. In Michigan, FIRST LEGO League is an elementary school only program with teams comprised solely of elementary school aged/grade team members. To attend an event or receive any grants, teams must be aligned to the FIRST in Michigan progression of programs, consisting ONLY of: All students in grades 4-5, as well as students in grade 6 (maximum) IF they attend an elementary school, and individual students in grade 3 who are “playing up” because it is a better fit for them.
• FIRST LEGO League Challenge team size is capped at 10. No exceptions are made, and smaller teams than this are highly encouraged (6-8 students.) Multiple teams out of a given school/organization are welcome, and we have grants which can fully fund additional teams at a school. Let me know if you would like more teams!
• If you have middle school students who would like to participate in robotics, please reach out the Tammy Damrath at tammy@firstinmichigan.org for more information about FTC teams.

Register Your Teams

• If you have not yet, get your team registered now to be able to participate this season! When you register a team located in Michigan with FIRST, you are automatically a part of the FIRST in Michigan (FIM) team family! There is no additional registration required until October when event registration begins.
• Teams keep their number from year to year, so please re-register all current teams before registering a new team at your school/district. Rookie status for grants or other purposes is not determined by team number.
• Each team will need two registered, screened coaches in order to register for events in Michigan. Coaches can be registered to multiple teams. All email communication will be sent to the two registered coaches, as well as the team admin if there is one registered.

Grants

• Donors Choose:Through generous support from 3M, FIRST® related DonorsChoose project funding is now available to any US-based full-time educators and school district employees who work directly with students at least 75% of the time from Public Schools, Public Charter School, Head Start Centers, and Bureau of Indian Education Schools. FIRST educators will create a project on DonorsChoose and once the project is live, they must complete this form to be considered for this selective funding opportunity. Projects will be reviewed to ensure they meet donor intent and partial funding will be allocated accordingly. For more information, please visit this page.

MICHIGAN RESOURCES

These four important pages have all the information you need to run a Michigan FIRST LEGO League Challenge team each year:

• Resources page – annotated, organized list of links to everything for running a team and this season
• Events page – important pages linked at the top to help you register for an attend an event
• Run-a-Team page – step-by-step guide to running a team from registration to attending an event
• Grants page – information about all grants available to new or returning teams

EBLASTS