Note to our Community: FIRST Tech Challenge in Texas

San Antonio, Texas – At FIRST in Texas, we are committed to creating equitable access for all students, regardless of their location, to participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge program and earn potential advancement to the FIRST in Texas UIL State Championship. To ensure every student has the same opportunity, no matter their city or region. In 2019, we worked with then local leadership to draft the “Texas Model” that FIRST approved in 2020. It aligned with the diverse needs of our state that provided a consistent method of engagement for our young Texans. This initially established Texas as a “League Play” environment.

What Are Leagues?

In the Texas Model document, teams compete in three League Meets and one League Tournament. Here’s how it works:

• League Meets: Teams participate in 5 to 6 Qualification Matches (depending on the league) with no Judging or Elimination Matches at these events.
• League Tournament: Teams start with a ranking based on their top 10 Qualification Matches from the League Meets. During the tournament, they play another 5 to 6 Qualification Matches before moving into Elimination Matches. Judging interviews take place in the morning, with Pit Interviews and Final Deliberations happening in the afternoon. These interviews can be conducted in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format depending on the event structure.

The Texas Model was developed with input from regional leaders in 2019 and was approved by FIRST in 2020.

Expanding Access with the ‘Last Call Qualifier’

For the 2022 – 2023 season, with feedback from our North Texas community, we introduced the “Last Call Qualifier” as a pilot program, for rookie teams that were still being impacted with supply chain issues or rural teams facing significant transportation cost challenges without local funding. This accommodation is part of FIRST in Texas’ broader efforts to grow access to our programs, not just in metro areas, but also in support of rural and underserved communities.

We now have the ‘Last Call Qualifier’ available in all five sub regions of Texas, ensuring this crucial resource is available statewide. The local Program Delivery Coordinator is responsible for activating the Last Call Qualifier as needed based on registrations and feedback from their community.

Ensuring Parity Across Texas Together

On October 1, 2024, we were contacted by a FIRST Tech Challenge coach with concerns there were two Qualifiers established in their Area to directly support the request of 14 teams, with over 85% of the teams from one school that also travels and participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition program.

FIRST in Texas reviewed the concerns, talked with our staff, the local planning committee, and connected with others within that Area. We found that the local planning committee and our coordinator, during the summer, and at the behest of the school mentor, worked outside the scope of what they were allowed to do without approval in a few key areas.

1. Created two special “Qualifiers”
2. Established a special rate / financial model  that would take the published “League Registration” fees, divide it between the two events (175.00 /ea) and have it as a type of fundraiser for the robotics booster club.

This in no way aligns to the “Texas Model” and equitable delivery of programs that we promote in Texas.  Our decision process involved discussions with our management team and we decided that since the season had already started, that canceling both events could possibly impact the teams ability to join a league as they have done in previous years. FIRST in Texas leadership team made the decision to change one of the two events to a “scrimmage / non-advancing” event and left the second event as a “Qualifier” to allow those 14 teams, not wanting to compete in League Play, to earn possible advancement for this season.

We apologize broadly to our community, that the local planning committee, and our local coordinator did not seek proper approvals within the parameters of the Texas Model and by not following now three years of precedence, in how we deliver FIRST Tech Challenge programs across Texas. We feel our corrective action is proper and will not penalize our teams as they can still compete and earn advancement in their Area without travel expenses that will allow them to save those funds for their FIRST Robotics Competition season.  We will be working closely with the local planning committee this season to ensure equity, policies / standards are followed, and ensuring all voices are heard.

Always Evolving and Listening to our Community

FIRST in Texas will continue to evaluate its state-wide event delivery standards and the “Texas Model” each year to ensure parity across Texas while teams work towards the FIRST in Texas UIL State Championship. Working collectively as Texans, we will ensure that parity in access and experience remains a priority for all of our teams.

We are always working to improve and welcome your feedback and concerns. This utility has been created for all to utilize. All voices are heard in Texas and free from cyber bullying.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to create sustainability, champion competition parity across the state together as one community.