Carson City,NV – The NevadaDepartment of Education (NDE or Department) today announced a $4 million dollarinvestment of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School EmergencyRelief (ARP ESSER) funds to expand access to STEM and robotics programs Statewide.In partnership with FIRST Nevada, the Department will move closer to itsgoal of securing a robotics program in every school that serves K-12 studentsin Nevada.

“Providing accessfor our students to emerging technologies and STEM programs is essential as werecover from COVID-19 and redefine education in Nevada, and I recognizeGovernor Sisolak and the Interim Finance Committee for investing in thisinnovative program,” said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of PublicInstruction. “We are excited and grateful to have FIRST Nevada as a forward-thinkingpartner in moving us closer to our goal of ensuring each and every Nevadastudent is future-ready and globally prepared!”

This projectaligns with the Department’s Statewide Plan for the Improvement ofPupils (STIP) value ofAccess to Quality, as well as its stated goal that “All students graduatefuture-ready and globally prepared for postsecondary success and civic life.”Additionally, it aligns with the Department’s COVID-19 federal relief funding Advancing Equity focus area.

“InspiringNevada’s young people to develop technology-based skills and interests willensure not only success for our next generation, but economic vitality for thefuture of our State,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “I commend the NevadaDepartment of Education for establishing innovative programs and partnershipswhich will provide critical STEM and STEAM opportunities to our students and lookforward to the expansion of FIRST Nevada programs Statewide.”

The mission of FIRST Nevada isto inspire young people to become science and technology leaders, by engagingthem in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering andtechnology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded lifecapabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. FIRST offersa suite of inclusive, team-based PreK-12 robotics programs to engage students, including FIRST LEGOLeague, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST RoboticsCompetition. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, FIRST Nevada programs reached half ofNevada’s school districts and over 3,000 Nevada students and teachers,including 270 robotics teams Statewide.

“FIRST Nevadais thrilled and honored to be selected by the Nevada Department of Education asa recipient of this impactful investment to provide much needed resources toour schools and teachers while ensuring equitable access for Nevada’s youth,” saidAngela Quick, FIRST Nevada Executive Director. “We are truly gratefulfor this partnership and our aligned vision to provide accessibility to theseexciting hands-on robotics programs that will inspire the next generation ofscience and technology leaders.”

This partnershipwill help support robotics team retention post-pandemic and enable FIRST Nevadato increase the number of robotics teams Statewide. Support for public schoolswill provide tools, equipment, and resources to offer equitable access forstudents and teachers throughout the State.

Students whoparticipate in FIRST programs are 2.9 times more likely to show interest inSTEM, 2.3 times more likely to be interested in a STEM career, 3.7 times morelikely to be involved in STEM activity, and 2.7 times more likely to show gainsin STEM understanding. In addition, FIRST participants develop skills to becomethe innovators of tomorrow, such as improved problem solving skills, conflictresolution, cooperation, time management, and strengthened communication skills. 

Nevada schoolleaders are encouraged to reach out to Angela Quick at FIRST Nevada at aquick@firstinspires.org to find out more information aboutstarting a robotics program at their school.  

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ABOUT THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates withNevada’s 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority toadvance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and LasVegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve itsmission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuringopportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under theleadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of PublicInstruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and30,000 educators.

ABOUTFIRST NEVADA

FIRST Nevada isa 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting FIRST®robotics programs and STEAM education initiatives in Nevada. The mission of FIRST® (For Inspirationand Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to becomescience and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that buildscience, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and thatfoster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication,and leadership. To learn more about FIRST® visit FirstNevada or FirstInspires.