N.Y. Education Law § 6454: Science and technology entry program

§ 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.