Robotics Grant Program

The FY26 AMSTI Robotics Grant is administered by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) and provides targeted funding to public K–12 schools across the state to support robotics education. This grant is part of Alabama’s broader efforts to advance STEM learning and ensure that students gain hands-on experience in coding, engineering, and problem-solving. The program is coordinated through ALSDE’s Office of Educational Technology and is structured as an annual, competitive grant available only to public schools serving grades K–12 within Alabama. The FY26 cycle of the grant was announced in July 2025 and required applicants to complete their online submission through a structured DocuSign PowerForm by September 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The application process requires schools to prepare key data in advance, including LEA information, a summary of students and teachers impacted, and a budget with categorized line items using function, program, and object codes. The application must be signed by four LEA officials: the project manager, the technology coordinator, the chief financial officer (CSFO), and the superintendent. Applications are only considered complete once all required signatures are obtained. ALSDE will finalize internal reviews after the submission deadline. Each school must apply individually through the DocuSign system. While districts may use the same proposal for multiple schools, applications must be submitted and signed separately for each school. Only robotics-specific items are eligible for purchase. Grants may not be used to purchase general-purpose devices such as tablets or laptops. Acceptable items include robotics kits that require design, construction, and coding (e.g., LEGO SPIKE, VEX IQ, Ozobot, Sphero, etc.). Pre-assembled devices are also acceptable if they align with instructional robotics goals. The maximum award per school is $3,500. If a school’s intended purchase exceeds this amount, the applicant must confirm that the local LEA will cover the excess and explicitly state this within the application budget. Changes to the budget post-award must be submitted through a DocuSign Budget Amendment Request Form and require ALSDE approval before making any purchases. Amendments are processed within five business days. All awarded funds must be expended, and a final Evaluation/Expenditure Report must be submitted to ALSDE no later than September 30, 2026. Grantees should maintain a record of both the original and amended budgets, as well as documentation of expenditures and approval correspondence. For questions or application support, applicants may contact Zachary Searels at zachary.searels@alsde.edu.

Create a free DocuSign account to track signature completion; pre-fill all budget fields using correct codes to avoid return; confirm signature order before launching form