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Utica schools wins $50,000 MiSTEM grant to fund K–6 technology, AI and coding kits
Summary
Utica Community Schools will use a $50,000 MiSTEM Playbook grant to buy LEGO Education Computer Science and AI kits for grades 3–5, expand teacher supports, and launch districtwide K–6 engineering and coding experiences.
The Utica Community Schools Board heard on March 16 that the district received a $50,000 MiSTEM Playbook grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to expand K–6 technology instruction.
Catherine Einhaus, Executive Director of Elementary Curriculum and Programs, said Courtney Conley applied for and secured the grant. The district plans to purchase LEGO Education Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence kits for grades 3–5 and provide teacher supports and family engagement resources. The kits are intended to teach foundational computer science concepts — events, loops, conditionals and variables — with interactive hardware and standards-aligned lessons.
Einhaus told the board the grant will support professional learning for teachers and make computer science and early AI instruction more accessible at the elementary level. The board thanked and congratulated Mrs. Conley for securing the funding; no board vote was required for the grant announcement.
The district also noted the program includes materials for teachers and an easy-to-use platform intended to lower barriers for classroom implementation. Estimated per-section costs and projected district-scale budgeting were not presented for this item at the meeting.
