Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Andrew,
Our students long ago made a presentation to the school board. They felt they were working as hard or harder than students in the band or orchestra who receive grades and credit. The school board agreed. ( We have a great school board who support us and come out to competitions and demos!) Their requirements were that we have a curriculum and a method of determining grades and a minimum of meeting time each week (3 hours). During the fall we have the team break into groups/small teams. A small number of students are involved in software training. The rest will form a single FTC team and several VEX teams. These all work on robots in preparation for competition during this time of the year. The VEX teams then compete in a mini competition and the higher performing teams go on to a regional. Four team qualified and two made it into the finals over this past weekend. One was on the Champion alliance. The FTC team will compete in a regional event and then to state which we have participated in since it's inception. During the fall we take attendance having students sign in and out. We will meet a minimum of three hours on Monday nights and additional time as the teams determine. Adults will then observe and mentor each group and pass info along to the teachers. This evaluation along with homework helps determine grades. During the fall, experienced students will make presentations on the sub teams that have worked on and then students will make a list of first, second and third choices for a sub team. In December, they will be given a sub team assignment and begin working within their sub team. After kickoff everyone is in full build season mode, all working on assignments and continuing with homework. (usually answering questions based on research) While working on subteams, students are again evaluated for grades, participation and quality of work. We are a larger team than most with 60 students. Subteams are mechanical, electrical, software, strategy, animation, Chairman's/Hall of Fame/community service, fundraising, video, yearbook, Woodie Flowers, playing field. Students may participate in more than one subteam but will be evaluated on both. Grades are supreme and determine who travels, who is on pit crew and who is on drive team. If your grades fall, you cannot drive, or be on pit crew. I believe the criteria is to drive you need an A in robotics and no grades below a C. Pit crew is similar with C average and no failing or incomplete grades. Travel is a B in robotics and no failing or incomplete and carries a minimum fundraising limit as well. Our second regional each year is a skeleton team of primarily critical pit crew, drivers and strategy students. Less than 20 students will travel to the second regional and typically about 35 will travel to Championships.