What can FIRST do to increase FRC team sustainability?

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by rsisk

2. Provide resources that can be used by schools to increase the value of the FIRST program to the schools. Curriculum schools can use would help a lot.

This might be the most important step. VEX offers a curriculum that allows school districts to justify assigning a teacher to the program. If FIRST could offer a dual track then that allows the districts to start supporting the program. That's been a big help for us in the last couple of years.

As a friend who works in international development said, non profits can come up with innovations and pilots, but to scale up to widespread adoption requires embedding the program in an institution such as a school or a government. In the U.S. sports are in the schools with salaries for coaches paid by schools. In Europe, sports clubs are subsidized by governments. This is an educational program that benefits many more than just students participating.

It's time for FIRST to take the next step and offer a model that schools find useful for accomplishing their mission.