Action Required

 Update on OSPI Funding and Support for the Upcoming FRC/FTC/FLL Season 

Hello Washington State Public School Coaches, Teachers, and School Administrators,

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our OSPI Impact Survey. We understand it came during a very busy time as the school year was wrapping up, and we truly appreciate your input.

The information you shared has been invaluable in helping us develop a plan to ensure the loss of OSPI funds doesn’t prevent teams from participating this season.

Our Development team has been working hard to secure additional funding, and they’ve done an outstanding job. As of now, we are able to commit to replacing 75% of the OSPI funds that were lost this year. Here’s what that means for you:

What You Need to Know:

1. Will every team/school receive 75% of what they got last year from OSPI?
   Not exactly. Funding will be distributed based on need, so some may receive more than 75%, while others may receive less. Please fill out the support application (linked below) to gain access to these funds
2. Does this mean we can ease up on fundraising?
   Unfortunately, no. Everyone should continue to ramp up their fundraising efforts. While FIRST Washington is here to help bridge the gap this season, this funding is not a permanent solution. Our shared goal is to help everyone become self-sustaining without relying on OSPI funds.
3. Will OSPI funds return in future years?
   We don’t know yet, but we are actively advocating for their return.
4. Is this new funding replacing the FIRST Washington grant?
   No. This is separate from the FIRST Washington Grant and should not have an impact on funding from the FIRST Washington grant.

How You Can Help:

• Keep up your fundraising and outreach efforts.
• If you are able to replace the lost OSPI funding on your own, please let us know through the application form so we can allocate more funds to teams in greater need.
• Share your fundraising successes and ideas with other teams—we’re all in this together.

Support Application:

To ensure we allocate these funds effectively, we’ve created a Support Application for public schools. Please fill it out by July 31st—even if you do not need financial support. There’s an option to indicate that your team is self-sufficient, which helps us focus our outreach and support where it’s most needed.

Application Guidelines:

• You may complete the form by team, school, or district.
• If you are an administrator supporting multiple teams, you do not need to submit a separate application for each team.
• However, you must submit one application per program (FRC, FTC, FLL, etc.).
• If you’re filling the form out for multiple teams or schools, please indicate the total OSPI funding those teams received last year.

We plan to allocate funds in early August and notify teams of their grant status by mid-August.

Thank you again for being part of such a strong, supportive community. Your dedication ensures that every student who wants to participate has the opportunity to do so.

Together, we will make it happen.

With appreciation,

Adrienne Collins
Director of Programs
FIRST Washington