BIOGLOW 2026–27 · Team email sent October 28, 2026
Action needed: Michigan 99h Robotics Grant — due December 1
Dear Explore Coaches and Admins,
Great news for your young builders this BIOGLOW season: the FY27 Michigan Robotics Competition Grant (Section 99h) is open now, and FIRST LEGO League Explore teams are eligible. It can help cover your team’s registration, materials, festival and travel costs, plus a coaching stipend. To make the application faster and easier for your district, FIRST in Michigan has put together a spreadsheet you can fill in and hand to the person who submits the grant, along with a filled-in sample to follow.
Key dates and facts
- Deadline: applications are due in MDE’s NexSys system by Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at noon. MDE will not reopen it after that.
- Who submits: your school or district’s Level 5 NexSys contact (the person authorized to submit state grants), not the coach. Your business office or superintendent’s office can tell you who that is.
- Who can apply: public school districts, public school academies (charters), ISDs and registered nonpublic schools. Community teams are not eligible.
- One application per district: a single district application covers all of its FIRST teams (Explore, Challenge, FTC and FRC). If your district also has older teams, please make sure your Explore teams are added to the same spreadsheet.
What to do (coaches/admins)
- Find your Level 5 contact now, so they can plan ahead before Dec. 1.
- Fill in the FiM 99h spreadsheet for your Explore team(s): make your own copy of the 2026–27 99h Input Spreadsheet. Use the 2026–27 Sample 99h Input Spreadsheet as a guide.
- Send your Level 5 contact your completed spreadsheet plus these MDE resources:
Questions from your Level 5 about filling out the application can go to Janelle Moore at janelle@firstinmichigan.org. Explore registration and festival questions can come to me.
Maximum amounts per team (FIRST programs, FY27)
| Program | Grades | Rookie team | Veteran team |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST LEGO League Explore | K–3 | $1,140 | $720 |
| FIRST LEGO League Challenge | 4–5 | $1,643 | $905 |
| FIRST Tech Challenge | Middle school | $2,711 | $1,374 |
| FIRST Robotics Competition | High school | $7,000 | $7,000 |
These are maximum request amounts, not guaranteed awards.
Coaching stipend: each building listed in the application can request one $1,500 stipend, which can be split among that building’s coaches. List benefits as $0 for the stipend.
Requirements to keep in mind
- Your team must be registered with FIRST for 2026–27 when the application is submitted. If your team’s registration is still being processed, please complete it before your Level 5 submits.
- Students on the team must be enrolled in the applying district/school.
- The team must compete at an official, in-person FIRST in Michigan Explore festival this BIOGLOW season. A spring festival also counts. You can find festival information on our Explore events page.
- A sponsor or business partner outside the school is still required per legislation, but the application does not ask you to provide sponsor information.
- All grant recipients must provide a 25% local in-kind or cash match.
Please share this with your Level 5 contact as soon as you can. Getting the spreadsheet to them early is the best way to avoid errors and last-minute problems in NexSys.
Thank you for all you do to help your young builders glow!
Warmly,
Heidi Ferguson
FLL Explore Program Director
FIRST in Michigan
heidi@firstinmichigan.org
