Virginia Teams: Action requested

[wilsonmw04]

SB 246 passed both houses and is on its way to the Governor's desk. You can assist in the signing of the bill by contacting the Governor and urging his support.
You can email the governor here: https://governor.virginia.gov/consti...vernors-office

If you want sample text, it is available on our web site:
http://www.bluecheese1086.org/advocacy.php

some info about the bill:
Virginia SB 246 STEM Competition Team Grant Program and Fund; established, created.
This bill, introduced by Senator Senator William Stanley, Jr. establishes a grant program administered by the Board of Education beginning in 2017 to establish STEM competition teams at qualified schools. The bill defines qualified schools as those public secondary schools at which at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Grants are capped at $10,000 per school per year.

Please share on social media and encourage others to email the governor. Feel free to use these tags lavishly: @FIRSTweets @VirginiaFIRST #morethanrobots #STEMinEdu
#omgrobots @BillStanley

[PayneTrain]

If slick Terry installed a tap in the Governor's Mansion for Stone Brewing, you think he has enough room for a full-size practice field as well? (:

This is a great step forward after too many steps sideways/back in Virginia and we are supporting you guys and we'll be discussing this with the Va Sec of Education when we meet with her!

Can you imagine a world where teams in Virginia and the rest of the world can compete without having to float the massive barrier to entry that is registration fees? Support like this is one of many ways we can achieve that.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

...
Can you imagine a world where teams in Virginia and the rest of the world can compete without having to float the massive barrier to entry that is registration fees? Support like this is one of many ways we can achieve that.

You seem to have your sights firmly fixed on using the grants for FRC purposes. Maybe not, but that is how it seems to a reader.

Please remember, teams only need pay a $75 fee to enjoy the 12-month VRC season (The last I knew, FTC's entry fee was a little higher, but sort-of in the same ballpark).

I definitely support the FRC program, and I understand why some hastily written posts might seem to focus only on FRC, but ...

A $10K grant to a school in a disadvantaged community can easily create four fully-funded and well-equipped VRC teams that easily give all sorts of hands-on experimentation & inspiration to a total of about 30 students.

If that same location gets another $10K grant in the next year, they would have the cash to spin up two more teams (a total of six), and add 10-15 more students (all getting lots of hands-on experience and experimentation) to their roster.

And, classrooms, or other programs can easily use VRC (or FTC) equipment & software.

I'm not advocating only VRC (between FTC and VRC, VRC is the program I know the best). Obviously, FTC and VRC are very similar. Each has pluses and minuses. My belief is that FTC is a bit more expensive, and is purposefully moving in the direction of being a tougher row to hoe. Regardless, if after hearing a balanced description of both programs, a school wants to dive into FTC instead of VRC, or into both FTC and VRC, I'll applaud.

Bottom Line: Assuming the bill becomes law, let's initially encourage schools to use these grants on low-risk, high-payoff investments that give us all the most bang for our tax bucks! FRC is high-cost, high-risk, requires much from adult mentors, and doesn't scale up well as the number of interested students at a single location grows. If walking, then jogging, then running makes sense, FRC shouldn't be the first thought we have.

Blake
PS: Goodness! There was a different bill (SB17) asking for $50K per school grants? $50K could put hands-on VRC inspiration into the lives of 20 teams of 6-8 students in a first season. That would be roughly 140 students at a single school all able to participate directly in mechanical design and CAD, strategizing and requirements/design definition, software development, integration and testing (and design iterations), and in the various softer-skill activities of each team. Making that direct involvement possible for 140 students at each school receiving a full $50K grant would definitely be a big bang.

[wnewton00]

This bill was written to support any STEM team competition program. While it was an FRC team that did this, when the students did their presentations, proposals and sample budgets they submitted to the Governor's office and other officials they included many programs including all levels of FIRST, CyberPatriot as well as other STEM initiatives. They understand completely how FRC may not be feasible for all schools depending on other resources. And ideally the best place is to get programs in the elementary schools. Research has shown that the sooner children are exposed to STEM initiatives the more likely they are to be inspired to choose a STEM education and career path.
This could easily facilitate the start of many FLL teams, JSS, Cyberpatriot, etc. It also could allow that rural high school the chance to start an FRC team and build that 120 pound robot from scratch. We have high schools that are 97% free and reduced lunch. These kids do not have these opportunities right now. These funds are there to give this opportunity to students that might not have had the chance to experience what many of us here on CD has.
With that being said, the VA FRC members on here are undoubtedly going to be excited about the prospect of more FRC teams in our state. If a school wants to do FRC and this fund makes it possible then why would we not be happy for them?

**The main goal for SB17 was to get STEM labs and equipment into schools that do not have them using money provided by STEM companies and groups. Again think of those schools with 97% free and reduced lunch. That bill did not exclude competition teams but did have a much broader range and would have relied on a different source of funding. We have more work to do in order to get that one through. While it made it sailed through the Senate and then House Committees, it was tabled in appropriations.

[PayneTrain]

As someone who grew up in and supports FRC Teams in Virginia I am naturally inclined to initially view things through that lens. Sorry.

[JesseK]

Have you considered emailing Sally/Stan? I haven't seen this in recent emails. It really seems like we're better off if ALL of the VA teams are in on this, as some of them could really benefit from it.

[wnewton00]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Have you considered emailing Sally/Stan? I haven't seen this in recent emails. It really seems like we're better off if ALL of the VA teams are in on this, as some of them could really benefit from it.

There has been communications with them, I am aware of at least one in person meeting that was done with Stan as well as emails and VAFIRST has provided support multiple areas including validating support with a local tech partnership, media during one of the early presentations, retweeting the kids' call out to other VA teams for support.
Again these are the ones I am specifically aware of, there may be other communications I did not see.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Have you considered emailing Sally/Stan? I haven't seen this in recent emails. It really seems like we're better off if ALL of the VA teams are in on this, as some of them could really benefit from it.

they have not sent out an email about it. They have sent things out via social media. I am not sure who decides what goes out to the teams officially.

[gblake]

Folks,

Why doesn't someone associated with this topic (a Blue Cheeser?) ask the folks running the Chesapeake District's N. Va event (today/tomorrow) (and ask the other Chesapeake events too) to advertise the opportunity to lobby the Governor to get the bill signed?

Today Dean K was at the event. I didn't hear him speak, but I think a mention of this bill would have been a nice addition to whatever he said (I'm assuming he was a speaker). Maybe he did mention it?

Or some other method could be used to get the word out at the events...

Blake

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by gblake

Folks,

Why doesn't someone associated with this topic (a Blue Cheeser?) ask the folks running the Chesapeake District's N. Va event (today/tomorrow) (and ask the other Chesapeake events too) to advertise the opportunity to lobby the Governor to get the bill signed?

Today Dean K was at the event. I didn't hear him speak, but I think a mention of this bill would have been a nice addition to whatever he said (I'm assuming he was a speaker).

Or some other method could be used to get the word out at the events...

Blake

A Direct message has been sent. They are busy. I hope they get to it tomorrow. This is not a slight against 1885. They asked us for info. Thank you JesseK. We have contacted VirginiaFIRST. They have not officially sent the info out to the rest of Virginia. I'm not sure what else we can do. Maybe they think they would be giving a team preferential treatment? I don't know. Personally, I think this bill could help a lot of FIRST teams. I'm VERY disappointed they haven't come on board.

[gblake]

OK - Remember that I missed all the opening speeches (and the closing speeches haven't happened yet), so maybe it was discussed already (or will be).

In a similar vein, other than this CD thread, did anyone pass the word to the RECF yet? There are plenty of Virginians with keyboards in that herd too. Hang a roll of paper on the wall at their State Championship, have everyone sign it, and then drive it over to the capital. Whoops - It's already too late to take advantage of the 2016 VRC State Championship (but not too late to get the word out through the RECF to all registered VA VRC teams).

[JesseK]

I saw Sally while walking through the hallway said she didn't know anything about it. I asked if we could make an announcement or fit it into opening/closing ceremonies. I was told not until she fully looked at it, which I inferred wouldn't happen until after the event. I didn't even think to go straight to Dean with it.

I find it somewhat depressing to believe VA FIRST would retweet something of this magnitude and not follow it through to the end. Parents are not on twitter. I'm on twitter occasionally. I don't really facebook, and neither do a lot of parents. Kids look at government stuff and the importance goes straight over their heads, especially if it's a social media sub-team.

It's a bit frustrating we don't have full leadership support to take this thing the rest of the way. There have been many attempts and forms at this type of bill in the past, with lobbying from a lot of teams in the state. This bill is one of the few that has been successful, and we should all support it.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by wnewton00

This bill was written to support any STEM team competition program. While it was an FRC team that did this, when the students did their presentations, proposals and sample budgets they submitted to the Governor's office and other officials they included many programs including all levels of FIRST, CyberPatriot as well as other STEM initiatives. They understand completely how FRC may not be feasible for all schools depending on other resources. And ideally the best place is to get programs in the elementary schools. Research has shown that the sooner children are exposed to STEM initiatives the more likely they are to be inspired to choose a STEM education and career path.

Great! (j)FLL and VEX IQ (and any other equally good or better) programs should obviously be promoted as proven options for those elementary schools.

Along those lines, my experience has shown that there is a great need for "training the trainers". It sure would be nice to see a program-neutral method arise for introducing teachers and other mentors to the basic skills needed for success in all the available (VIQ, jFLL, FLL, FTC, VRC, FRC, PLTW?, 4H?, CyberPatriot, BEST, JSS, SeaPerch, etc.) programs.

Originally Posted by wnewton00

This could easily facilitate the start of many FLL teams, JSS, Cyberpatriot, etc. It also could allow that rural high school the chance to start an FRC team and build that 120 pound robot from scratch. We have high schools that are 97% free and reduced lunch. These kids do not have these opportunities right now. These funds are there to give this opportunity to students that might not have had the chance to experience what many of us here on CD has.

Yep. I'm no stranger. Some of those schools are in the county where I live. Some members of my Church congregation teach/work/live in those communities. I have spent time learning about similar schools/communities in Baltimore, and learning about what has succeeded there. While I was with a previous employer I was proud to play a part in creating opportunities in all parts of our county. That past employer continues to great things.

Originally Posted by wnewton00

With that being said, the VA FRC members on here are undoubtedly going to be excited about the prospect of more FRC teams in our state. If a school wants to do FRC and this fund makes it possible then why would we not be happy for them?

I'll be excited and celebrating right along with them, so long as those new teams are built on solid foundations (are supported by more than just grant money "sand"), and so long as those new teams are built using resources available after all interested students have their basic needs met. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

Comedian John Pinette has a funny bit about going down a big mountain his first time he tried skiing. I recommend listening to it for a chuckle; and there is probably a lesson in that story for folks who want to dip their toes into the STEM robotics pool.

Originally Posted by wnewton00

**The main goal for SB17 was to get STEM labs and equipment into schools that do not have them using money provided by STEM companies and groups. Again think of those schools with 97% free and reduced lunch. That bill did not exclude competition teams but did have a much broader range and would have relied on a different source of funding. We have more work to do in order to get that one through. While it made it sailed through the Senate and then House Committees, it was tabled in appropriations.

One other question that always puzzles me about legislation, is this: What part of SB17, or SB246, if passed, would cause the state $ to be used in the ways you are describing? I can see that both would open the door for those uses, but neither mandates those uses. From what I read, expenses as unusual as hiring tutors or motivational speakers would satisfy both bills' requirements. I understand not wanting to tie the executive branch's hands too tightly when writing a bill, but this wide-open aspect of all STEM legislation I have seen so far always leaves me scratching my head.

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

As someone who grew up in and supports FRC Teams in Virginia I am naturally inclined to initially view things through that lens. Sorry.

Sure. "Sorry" isn't necessary. If anyone says it, perhaps it should be me saying, "Sorry for being a broken record, but let's not forget about the bigger picture."

I'm certain that folks tire of me pushing for public $ to initially be used more for programs that are less costly than FRC (in $ per involved student terms), before those public $ programs are expanded to include FRC, but the simple arithmetic and the other programs' results are both compelling; and here on CD at least, there is a strong FRC bias that creeps into almost all conversations if someone doesn't emphasize that bigger picture.

Blake