Section 7-205.3 - Summer Career Academy Pilot Program(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Eligible employer" means an employer that has a position available for a high school student over the summer and meets the criteria developed under subsection (c)(2) of this section.(3) "Eligible school system" means a local school system that has a large number of students who are not on track to meet the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards in high school, as determined by the Department.(4) "Eligible student" means a student who is interested in obtaining workforce skills and training and is:(i) Required to take a transition course under § 7-205.1 of this subtitle;(ii) Struggling to achieve mathematics competency in Algebra II before graduation, as determined by a guidance counselor at the student's school; or(iii) Struggling to achieve college and career readiness before graduation, as determined by a guidance counselor at the student's school, and in accordance with criteria developed by the Department.(5) "Program" means the Summer Career Academy Pilot Program.(b)(1) There is a Summer Career Academy Pilot Program in the State.(2) The Program shall begin in the summer of 2015 and last for 3 years.(3) The purpose of the Program is to provide students who are interested in obtaining workforce skills and training and who are struggling academically to meet graduation requirements an opportunity to advance the skills of the State's workforce during summer employment and to grow the State's economy through the promotion of sustainable employment for students after graduation.(c)(1) The Department shall develop criteria for the selection of:(i) Eligible school systems; and(2) The Department shall collaborate with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, the Department of Economic Competitiveness and Commerce, and representatives of the business community to develop criteria for and identify eligible employers.(d)(1)(i) The State Superintendent may select up to four eligible school systems each year to participate in the Program.(ii) Each eligible school system may only be selected to participate in the Program for 1 year.(2)(i) For the summer of 2015, each county superintendent from an eligible school system may select up to 60 students to participate in the Program.(ii) For the summers of 2016 and 2017, each county superintendent from an eligible school system may select up to 100 students to participate in the Program.(e) A student selected to participate in the Program: (1) Shall be assigned a summer career counselor to assist with the Program;(2) Shall be assigned a summer employment opportunity with an eligible employer;(3) Shall receive a stipend of up to $4,500 for the summer that is proportional to the time worked; and(4) On successful completion of the Program, may choose to receive: (i) A $500 completion grant; or(ii) A $2,000 scholarship toward the cost of tuition at an institution of higher education in the State.(f)(1) Funding for the Program shall be as provided in the State budget.(2) If in any year sufficient funds are not provided in the State budget to fully fund the stipends and completion grants or scholarships provided in subsection (e) of this section, the Department shall reduce the number of students participating in the Program accordingly.(g) On or before December 1 of the years 2015 through 2017, the Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, regarding the effectiveness of the Program including: (1) The number of students participating in the Program from each eligible school system;(2) Wage information regarding payments disbursed to students participating in the Program;(3) Feedback from students participating in the Program on ways to improve the Program;(4) The types of workforce skills and training that the students participating in the Program were able to acquire; and(5) Recommendations to expand or discontinue the Program.Added by 2014 Md. Laws, Ch. 569,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2014.Added by 2014 Md. Laws, Ch. 568,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2014. The 2014 legislature enacted two sections numbered § 7-205.3. This section has been renumbered as § 7-205.3 by the editor pending official revision.