TO CREATE THE ROBOTICS COMPETITION GRANT PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE ROBOTICS TEAMS IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING STUDY IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.

Student robotics grants require matching funds

The law creates Arkansas grants for school robotics teams with students in grades 6–12 and an adult mentor, coach, or sponsor. Public schools, open-enrollment public charter schools, and qualifying accredited private schools are eligible. Private schools need accreditation from the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association or another organization identified by the State Board of Education. Grants can cover competition fees, robot kits, supplies, materials, event fees, transportation, travel, and other participation costs. Adult mentor, coach, or sponsor stipends are capped at $1,500 per school year. Each grant requires matching contributions from other sources equal to at least 25% of the grant amount. Applications must show a partnership with a sponsor, business, college, or technical school and a proposed school-year budget. Teams must commit to competing within one year of the award and creating an original robot improved through repeated design. They must also show they can meet all program requirements. Qualifying competitions require teams to design, build, and operate a robot and have a youth-focused science and technology nonprofit sponsor. The sponsor must qualify under federal tax law as of January 1, 2025. Named competition programs include FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, and VEX V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes. Teams entering multiple competitions can apply for multiple grants per school year, including for regional, state, or national events. The Arkansas Department of Education sets application rules and pays grants to schools on teams’ behalf. Awards must reach as many eligible teams as possible and expand geographic reach. Grants depend on state legislative funding; the law sets no grant amount or total funding amount.