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S 460

Dreher High School students heroic fire rescue

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Darrell Jackson

Massachusetts creates the Workforce Preparation Robotics grant program to fund K-12 robotics participation, prioritizing under-resourced schools and Cape Cod/Western Massachusetts.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · S 460

Summary — S.460 (Velis): Workforce Preparation Robotics Grant Program

Note on metadata: the bill metadata you provided includes an inconsistent title and sponsor list (referring to rules on athletic participation and various federal senators). The text of S.460 filed 1/15/2025 by Senator John C. Velis is an act to establish an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program. This summary is based on the actual bill text in the docket (Senate No. 460).

Purpose

Create the "Workforce Preparation Robotics" grant program (added as Section 67 to Chapter 15 of the Massachusetts General Laws) to increase elementary and secondary school participation in robotics and STEM activities and to develop related hard and soft skills (e.g., leadership, teamwork, problem solving, hardware/software skills) to prepare students for the workforce.

Key provisions

  • Program administrator: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (referred to as “the department”).
  • Eligible applicants: public and charter elementary, middle, and high schools in the state.
  • Preference and priority:
    • Preference given to schools without an existing sponsored robotics club or program.
    • Schools located in Cape Cod and Western Massachusetts catchment areas have priority.
  • Required commitment: awardees must run a team registered with one of the listed programs: FIRST Robotics Competition; FIRST Tech Challenge; FIRST Lego League (Explore or Challenge); VEX Robotics Competition; VEX IQ Challenge; or Science Olympiad.
  • Application deadline: June 1 each year for grants for the following academic year.
  • Funding subject to appropriation and availability.

Grant amounts (by school level and program)

  • Elementary schools
    • FIRST Lego League Challenge: $1,250 (no program) / $750 (with program)
    • FIRST Lego League Explore: $590 (no program) / $370 (with program)
    • Science Olympiad: $490 (no program) / $435 (with program)
  • Middle schools
    • FIRST Tech Challenge: $4,000 (no program) / $3,000 (with program)
    • VEX IQ Challenge: $1,280 (no program) / $700 (with program)
    • Science Olympiad: $490 (no program) / $435 (with program)

  • High schools

    • FIRST Robotics Competition: $18,000 (no program) / $15,000 (with program)
    • VEX Robotics Competition: $1,700 (no program) / $700 (with program)
    • Science Olympiad: $490 (no program) / $435 (with program)

  • Administrative details: the department must promulgate rules and regulations to implement the program.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: public and charter elementary, middle and high schools (especially those without existing robotics programs and schools in Cape Cod and Western MA).
  • Secondary beneficiaries: students (expanded access to robotics/STEM), educators, district administrators, and regional competition organizations.
  • Fiscal impact: grants payable only within amounts appropriated; statewide fiscal effect depends on future appropriations.

Procedural status (selected actions)

  • Filed: 01/15/2025 (Senate docket No. 1085 / Senate No. 460)
  • Introduced in Senate: 02/06/2025; referred to Committee on Education
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/06/2025
  • 05/06/2025: Reported and committed to Codes (per docket)
  • Application timing for schools: annual applications due June 1 for the next academic year.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Expected to lower financial barriers to participation in robotics/STEM extracurriculars, particularly for under-resourced schools.
  • Large award for FIRST Robotics Competition teams ($15–18k) reflects higher costs for high school-level robotics.
  • Effectiveness depends on appropriation levels, department rulemaking, and outreach to eligible schools.
  • Implementation will require administrative capacity at the department and compliance/verification mechanisms for program eligibility and team registration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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