Google grant to help expand middle school robotics programs across Pa.

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Google is giving $775,000 to help expand middle school robotics and artificial intelligence programs across Pennsylvania.

At Carver High School of Engineering and Science in North Philadelphia, about a quarter of the student body is involved in robotics. But thanks to the grant from Google’s philanthropy arm, robotics programs can expand to include Carver's seventh and eighth graders.

“...Those are seventh and eighth graders who, right now, they have a robotics club, but they're not able to compete and engage in as many projects across the City of Philadelphia. This funding will allow them to do that,” said Carver Principal Dr. Darryl Johnson.

He says the cash will help fund registration fees for FIRST Tech Challenge competitions for more of his students.

"We want to see more students in the Black and brown community involved in things like robotics and STEM engineering, and so we're excited to see that,” Johnson said.

The donation is expected to benefit 18,000 middle school students at nearly 2,300 robotics clubs across the state.