Best Robotics Grant - Teacher Professional Development

Background
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is offering the BEST Robotics Grant to provide financial support for teacher professional development to teachers within their first five years of being a team teacher for a BEST Robotics team. The grant aims to advance STEM awareness and engagement in K-12 teachers and students.

Grant Details
The grant will fund training for up to ten BEST Robotics team teachers, providing general STEM training, awarding at least one continuing education credit (CEU) for participating teachers, and covering materials and shipping costs. The training must include instruction in at least three STEM areas, such as programming languages, computer-aided design (CAD), and robotics.
The total requested funds should reflect the number of teachers within their first five years of coaching. The grant will not reimburse or financially support the costs of training any additional teachers, new or veteran.

Eligibility Requirements
Official BEST Robotics Inc. Local Competition Hubs managed by or working closely with a Higher Education Agency (HEA), such as a junior college or university, are eligible to apply for funds via this grant. For hubs not managed by an HEA, all receipted and payment portions of the grant must be processed through the HEA’s grant office.
All non-HEA hubs must be classified as non-profit, 501(c)(3).
Teachers identified for training must be full-time employees of a school system and within their first five years of coaching a BEST Robotics Team.

Period of Performance
The teacher professional development must take place within three months of kickoff for the 2022 BEST Robotics competition season.

Grant Value
Each hub’s individual grant award will vary but may not exceed $1,000.00.
Estimated cost per teacher attendee shall not exceed $100.00.