§ 6454. Science and technology entry program. 1. As used in this
section:

a. "Council" means the council on professional career opportunity
created pursuant to article forty-four of the executive law;

b. "Eligible students" shall mean secondary school students who are
either economically disadvantaged or minorities historically
underrepresented in the scientific, technical, health, and
health-related professions as defined by the regents after consultation
with the council; and

c. "Eligible applicant" shall mean an institution of postsecondary
education or a consortia of such institutions.

2. The purpose of the science and technology entry programs shall be
to assist eligible students in acquiring the skills, attitudes and
abilities necessary to pursue professional or pre-professional study in
post-secondary degree programs in scientific, technical and
health-related fields.

3. Grant applications submitted by eligible applicants shall outline a
plan of instruction and curriculum-related activities and services to
advance the purpose of the science and technology entry program. Such
plans may provide for contracting by the eligible applicant with
specified not-for-profit community based educational organizations for
the provision of instruction, activities and services outlined in the
plan. Such plans shall include quantifiable measures to assess the
effectiveness of the instruction, activities and services in promoting
the purposes of the science and technology entry program. Such measures
shall include, but not be limited to:

a. the persistence rate of participating students in selecting and
completing mathematics and science courses in an academic track in their
subsequent years in high school;

b. the college placement rate of participating students in
professional or pre-professional programs in scientific, technical, or
health-related fields. Such approved plans may be amended with the
approval of the commissioner.

4. Eligible applicants receiving grants pursuant to this section shall
provide a program of instruction and curriculum-related activities and
services to advance the purpose of the science and technology entry
program. The curricula of these programs shall, to the extent
practicable, emphasize the concrete aspects of the scientific, technical
or health-related discipline as it relates to a professional career,
through laboratories, relevant work experience opportunities, or similar
activities. In addition to specialized instruction, programs funded
pursuant to this section shall provide participating students with
personal, career and financial aid counseling to ensure that such
students are fully aware of the opportunities and necessary preparations
for professional careers in scientific, technical, or health-related
fields.

5. a. Grants shall be awarded to eligible applicants based upon
criteria established by the commissioner after consultation with the
council, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) an established record of conducting effective collaborative
educational programs with neighboring secondary schools;

(2) the ability and willingness to cooperate with other postsecondary
institutions in operating a program funded pursuant to this section;

(3) the capacity to secure or provide additional support in amounts
equal to at least twenty-five percent of the grant sought under this
section through private and other governmental sources and through
in-kind services;

(4) a location within a school district with an enrollment comprised
of at least twenty percent minority group students or a location near
such a district that is accessible by public transportation.

b. The commissioner shall select the grant recipients after
consultation with the council. To the fullest extent practicable the
commissioner and the council shall ensure that grants are awarded to
eligible applicants in a diversity of regions of the state.

6. To be selected to participate in a program funded pursuant to this
section, an eligible student must exhibit the potential for college
level study if provided with special services, as indicated by academic
record, test scores, attendance record, personal references, and other
measures deemed appropriate by the commissioner.

7. No grant pursuant to this section shall exceed two hundred thousand
dollars to any eligible applicant in a single state fiscal year unless
the eligible applicant is a consortium comprised of two or more
institutions of post-secondary education or unless the eligible
applicant is conducting summer classes as an approved part of its
program.

8. The commissioner is authorized to require eligible applicants
receiving funds pursuant to this section to report periodically upon:

a. compliance with the approved plan;

b. the objectives of the applicant's program;

c. the curricula and the activities and services offered by the
program;

d. the sources of support and the expenditures of the program;

e. the background and progress of students selected to participate in
the program;

f. the performance of the program in meeting the evaluation standards
established pursuant to this section; and

g. other matters the commissioner deems appropriate.