A bill for an act relating to robotics extracurricular activities, including requiring the department of education to provide technical assistance to school districts related to chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics and authorizing high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic contests related to robotics.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amy Sinclair

Bill SF 61 boosts robotics in schools by requiring the Education Department to assist districts in forming robotics clubs and allowing contests, enhancing student engagement in STEM.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 278.

#careerandtechnicaleducation #contests(competitions) #curricula #education #educationdepartment #extracurricularactivities #schooldistricts #schools #students

Summary of Bill SF 61

Bill Number: SF 61
Title: A bill for an act relating to robotics extracurricular activities
Status: Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 278
Introduced: January 16, 2025
Classification: Bill
Subject: Career and Technical Education, contests (competitions), curricula, Education, education department, extracurricular activities, school districts, schools, students

Purpose and Intent

Bill SF 61 aims to enhance robotics extracurricular activities in schools by requiring the Department of Education (DE) to provide technical assistance to school districts. This assistance will focus on chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics. Additionally, the bill authorizes high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic contests related to robotics, promoting competition and engagement in this field.

Key Provisions

Technical Assistance Requirement:

The DE is mandated to provide educational resources and technical assistance to school districts for chartering career and technical student organizations that comply with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006.
This includes support specifically for organizations related to robotics and robotics competitions.

Authorization for Interscholastic Contests:

High school athletic organizations that receive funding from school districts or nonpublic schools can sponsor or administer interscholastic contests related to robotics.
The bill clarifies that this provision does not restrict organizations from sponsoring other types of interscholastic contests or competitions.

Impact

School Districts and Students:

The bill directly affects school districts by requiring them to engage with the DE for resources and support in establishing robotics-related student organizations.
Students will benefit from increased opportunities to participate in robotics competitions, fostering skills in technology and engineering.

High School Athletic Organizations:

These organizations will have the ability to expand their programming to include robotics contests, potentially increasing student participation and interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

Procedural Timeline

January 16, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the Education Committee.

January 28, 2025: Subcommittee formed, consisting of members Kraayenbrink, Pike, and Trone Garriott.

January 29, 2025: Subcommittee meeting held to discuss the bill.

February 3, 2025: Subcommittee recommends passage of the bill.

February 12, 2025: Committee report approving the bill; it is renumbered as SF 278.

Conclusion

Bill SF 61 represents a significant step toward enhancing robotics education and extracurricular activities in schools. By providing necessary resources and support, the bill aims to foster a more robust environment for students interested in robotics, ultimately contributing to their educational and professional development in technical fields.