Texas Transition Announcement and FAQs

Update on Programming in Texas

Announced July 31, 2026

After more than 15 years leading program delivery and growing access to FIRST programs in Texas, the FIRST in Texas organization is ending operations following a period of unsustainable challenges in the region.

To ensure continuity and long-term stability for the region’s teams, volunteers, sponsors, and partners, FIRST headquarters will manage the delivery of all FIRST programs in the FIRST in Texas region, effective immediately. This website will replace the former website for FIRST in Texas regions.

The FIRST in Texas Board of Directors and program leadership are working alongside FIRST leadership to support a smooth transition and maintain a strong experience for the FIRST community in Texas as we launch the 2026–2027 season in the region and around the world.

We are deeply grateful for the ongoing dedication of FIRST in Texas staff, volunteers, and supporters who ensure access to FIRST programs for over 20,000 Texas students each year.

What does this mean for you?

  • FIRST® Robotics Competition, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® LEGO® League teams based in the region will register for the 2026-2027 FIRST® CANOPY™ season via the FIRST Dashboard on firstinspires.org, as you have in the past.

  • Local program leadership will continue to deliver programs and events in the FIRST in Texas region alongside volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and other supporters, including the Advisory Council. Natasha Wilkerson, Lucia Sevcik, Juan Salinas, Emily DeMille, and Erika Diggs are joining the team at FIRST headquarters to continue this critical work for the region’s community.

  • FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League teams previously supported by FIRST in Texas will receive communications from FIRST (firstinspires.org email addresses) about registration information for events this fall. Information will also be available on our new local website, www.firsttx.org.

  • This transition does not impact operations for our other Texas-based FIRST program delivery organizations, San Jacinto College (FIRST Tech Challenge Houston Region) or University of Texas El Paso (FIRST LEGO League Texas West Region).

With this transition, our goal is to ensure sustainability in the FIRST in Texas region so our life-changing FIRST programs remain available to all the youth we serve.

If you have questions or would like to contact the Texas team, please reach out to us at texasinfo@firstinspires.org .

General FAQ

  • After more than 15 years leading program delivery and growing access to FIRST programs in Texas, the FIRST in Texas organization is ending operations following a period of unsustainable challenges in the region.  

    To ensure continuity and long-term stability for the region’s teams, volunteers, sponsors, and partners, FIRST headquarters will manage the delivery of all FIRST programs in the FIRST in Texas region, effective immediately. This website is the official site for these regions moving forward.

    The FIRST in Texas Board of Directors and program leadership are working alongside FIRST leadership to support a smooth transition and maintain a strong experience for the FIRST community in Texas.  

    The FIRST organization now directly manages program delivery for FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition in the FIRST in Texas region. The local program leadership team, including Program Delivery Partners, now work under FIRST. Support for teams and volunteers continues similar to the 2025-2026 season through a unified organizational structure. 

    With ongoing dedication from FIRST in Texas staff, volunteers, and supporters, the FIRST in Texas organization operated as the FIRST delivery partner for regions and FIRST programs in Texas from 2010-2026, supporting 20,000 students each year.   

  • No, the transition from the FIRST in Texas organization to FIRST headquarters management does not impact operations for our other Texas-based FIRST Program Delivery Organizations, San Jacinto College (FIRST Tech Challenge Houston Region) or University of Texas El Paso (FIRST LEGO League Texas West Region). 

  • We value your continued involvement and want to make it easy to stay engaged in the region. You can direct any questions to texasinfo@firstinspires.org, and the Texas team will follow up. This website continues to be updated with more information.

  • To ensure continuity and long-term stability for the region’s teams, volunteers, sponsors, and partners following the FIRST in Texas organization’s end of operations, FIRST headquarters will manage the delivery of all FIRST programs in the FIRST in Texas region. 

    The season will run much like the 2025-2026 season, with all teams registering for the season through the FIRST Dashboard. Team grant opportunities and other team support will continue. To help ensure your voice is heard, Advisory Councils will continue, and new regional planning committees will help shape next season.  

    Additional season updates and event information will also be posted on our new local website, www.firsttx.org as available. Teams previously supported by FIRST in Texas will receive communications from FIRST (firstinspires.org email addresses) about event registration this fall. 

Team FAQ

  • As we’ve been working through this transition, our community leadership has been somewhat limited in what we could communicate or plan prior to the announcement of the transition.

    Planning for the upcoming season has been taking place and we’re confident of our ability to deliver events as they were being envisioned prior to this transition.

  • The same programs are being offered for 26-27 as in previous seasons. Season calendars and event availability generally remains the same as in the 25-26 season. Any changes to events or competition models were already being orchestrated by regional planners and are not a result of the transition.

    In particular, program leaders from FIRST in Texas are all transitionining to the new organization, so you can expect strong continuity in program delivery for the upcoming season.

  • Season registration still consists of two components: (1) A FIRST season registration fee, and (2) registration fees for qualifiers, leagues. and advancement events.

    We are still working through specifics on how registration will work. What we do know is:

    • The FIRST in Texas Coach Portal is retiring.

    • All season and event registration fees will be paid to FIRST.

    Yes, this means all teams will have FIRST as the one and only vendor for registration and event fees for the upcoming season, without the need to pay some fees separately to a local vendor such as FIRST in Texas.

    Find out more by visting:

    FRC registration will continue to be managed by FIRST as it has been.

  • FIRST Season Registration is now open via team and lead coach dashboards at the firstinspires.org website.

    Event registration for FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge will open by mid-September. More details on registration will be released to teams as they become available.

  • Some fees will change due to changes in delivery costs unrelated to this organizational transition. These cost changes were already being planned by FIRST in Texas leadership and are simply carrying forward into the new organization.

    Details regarding season and event fees will be published soon in upcoming newsletters to the community and via direct communications with coaches.

  • State Advisory Councils will continue. In addition, for FLL and FTC new regional planning committees are being developed to better serve teams and volunteers in each Texas region.

  • Yes, we have some team grant funding and are actively working to develop more. Specific details of how to apply for team grants and receive support are still being developed. We will communicate grant information in upcoming newsletters and coach communications.

  • We are still in the process of setting up contact forms and email lists. Look for specific contacts on the program specific pages for FLL, FTC, or FRC.

    Questions can also be sent to the texasinfo@firstinspires.org address and will be routed to the appropriate program representatives for a response.

Volunteer FAQ

  • As we’ve been working through this transition, our community leadership has been somewhat limited in what we could communicate or plan prior to the announcement of the transition.

    Planning for the upcoming season has been taking place and we’re confident of our ability to deliver events as they were being envisioned prior to this transition.

  • Your day-to-day volunteer experience doesn’t change with the shift in FIRST in Texas operations to FIRST headquarters management.  

    Events in FIRST in Texas don’t happen without you. Your support remains needed and valued. You’ll continue to sign up through the FIRST Dashboard and work with program leadership in your region. 

    To ensure your voice is heard, Advisory Councils will continue for every program. New regional planning committees will give you a voice in next season's decisions, and a volunteer survey is coming so you can weigh in. 

  • No. Volunteers are at the heart of Texas program delivery and your comments, suggestions, and concerns will continue to be heard by program leadership dedicated to Texas.

    The Advisory Councils continue for every program. New regional planning committees are also being developed to give volunteers a stronger voice in planning and execution of program delivery in Texas.

    We will continue to regularly survey volunteers to hear what you like, dislike, and your opinions on ways we can better serve the mission and community.

  • State Advisory Councils will continue. In addition, for FLL and FTC new regional planning committees are being developed to better serve teams and volunteers in each Texas region.

  • We are still in the process of setting up contact forms and email lists. Look for specific contacts on the program specific pages for FLL, FTC, or FRC.

    Questions can also be sent to the texasinfo@firstinspires.org address and will be routed to the appropriate program representatives for a response.

  • The FIRST in Texas Microsoft system and Google systems will not be active moving forward, and your account access may be disabled. If you have files stored in Google and SharePoint that you would like to get access to, please reach out to texasinfo@firstinspires.org.