Rep’s bill would allow STEM ed to branch out

Sometimes, vocations and avocations need a champion, and students in Massachusetts looking to further their knowledge of science, technology and robotics have one in state Rep. Danillo Sena.

A House member representing the 37th Middlesex District, Sena filed a bill on Feb. 4 titled “An Act establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program,” meant to create a grant program that provides public and charter schools the necessary funding to increase robotics and STEM participation during and after school.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a branch of education designed to help students to become better problem-solvers.

“Money should not be a barrier between students and access to fun and engaging STEM education programs that foster creativity and have lasting positive effects on student achievement like these robotics teams,” the Acton Democrat stated in a release.

The bill was created in collaboration with Olivia Oestreicher, a member of Team 4905 Andromeda One Robotics at Ayer Shirley Regional High School and a Rep. Sena intern.

Sena said on Tuesday that since his filing, the bill has attracted 10 co-sponsors as it moves through the legislative process. He’s still waiting to see how the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education views the proposal.

If approved, the bill would provide grants ranging from $435 to $18,000 for schools to start or continue running a FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics or Science Olympiad program. Teams started with the grant money can use the funds to buy building supplies, power tools and equipment. They can also register for competitions, travel and take necessary safety measures to participate in competitions.

To be eligible, participants should be part of a Massachusetts public or charter elementary or secondary school, with priority given to institutions not having a sponsored or established robotics team, and those located on Cape Cod and in Western Massachusetts.

The program would be administered by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Far from a purely esoteric, nerds-need-only-apply exercise, STEM programs benefit a wide range of students, arming them with critical-thinking tools that can be applied to multiple subjects and occupations.

As Kathleen Sweeney, Middlesex Community College’s dean of STEM, previously pointed out, science, technology, engineering and mathematics relate to a variety of majors, from the college’s health programs to education courses.

“STEM is relevant to everything going on in the world,” Sweeney said.

At Mount Wachusett Community College, a $1.2 million portion of a three-grant, $4.7 million federal Department of Education Student Support Services award will inject $253,000 annually over the five years to support the Student Support Services STEM Health Sciences program.

Better known as the Rx Program on the Gardner campus, it provides comprehensive services to students majoring in health sciences — including nursing, dental, physical therapy, complementary health care, medical assisting, medical office, exercise science and the allied health interdisciplinary studies program.

STEM knowledge will become an increasingly integral factor in meeting the real-world challenges of today and tomorrow.

That’s reason to support Rep. Sena’s bill, and other similar legislative initiatives.