The New Hampshire Department of Education has announced that it will be providing grants totaling $713,601 to 77 schools in the state to fund robotics programs for students. The aim of this initiative is to motivate students in public and charter schools to pursue careers in STEM fields while also helping them develop critical life and work-related skills.
These grants will be used to expand existing robotics programs in schools as well as to establish new programs for schools without robotics teams. The funds will be utilized to purchase robotics kits, parts, and tools, as well as cover registration and competition fees, transportation to events, team shirts, and stipends for coaches or advisors. The amount of the grants ranges from $2,000 to $14,850 per school, depending on their specific needs.
In addition to robotics programs, some of the grants will also be used to launch drone programs in select schools. One of the schools, Cooperative Middle School in the Exeter Region Cooperative School District, plans to introduce a CoDrones program for students interested in participating in the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation’s Aerial Drone Competition. This program aims to provide students with hands-on, student-centered learning opportunities that focus on programming, drone flight principles, documentation, and communication skills.
Another school, the Pittsburg School District, which currently does not have a robotics program, intends to use the grant to introduce a comprehensive robotics experience that merges coding, technology, and creativity. The program will utilize the CoderZ curriculum to engage students in hands-on projects and foster a deep understanding of robotics design, coding principles, and problem-solving.
Overall, the grant funding will support programs such as CoderZ, VEX Robotics, FIRST Robotics, and drone content, providing students with valuable opportunities to explore STEM subjects in a practical and engaging way.
Sources:
– New Hampshire Department of Education
– Cooperative Middle School in the Exeter Region Cooperative School District
– Pittsburg School District