Section 6454 - Science and technology entry program1. 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.