(A) As used in this section:

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(1) “Eligible student” means a student to whom all of the following apply:

(a) The student is a resident of this state under rules adopted by the chancellor of higher education under section 3333.31 of the Revised Code.

(b) The student has completed a free application for federal student aid for the year for which the grant is to be awarded.

(c) The student enrolls in a qualified program at a community, state community, or technical college, an Ohio technical center, or a state university branch campus.

(2) “Qualified program” means a credit or noncredit program that leads to an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree and prepares the student for a job that meets either of the following criteria:

(a) It is identified as an “in-demand” or “critical” job as determined by the office of workforce transformation.

(b) It is submitted by a community, state community, or technical college, an Ohio technical center, or a state university branch campus and will meet regional workforce needs, as approved by the chancellor.

(B) The chancellor of higher education shall establish the Ohio work ready grant program. Under the program, the chancellor shall award a grant of up to three thousand dollars to eligible students enrolled in a qualified program. Grant award amounts made to eligible students enrolled on either a full-time or part-time basis shall be computed in accordance with rules adopted by the chancellor. No student shall be eligible to receive a grant for more than six semesters or the equivalent of three academic years.

(C) Eligible students shall apply to participate in the program in a form and manner prescribed by the chancellor. The chancellor shall determine the form and manner of payments.

(D)(1) The program shall be funded in the sums and manner designated for such purpose by the general assembly, but the chancellor also may receive funds from other sources to support the program.

(2) If, for any academic year, the amounts available for support of the program are inadequate to provide grants to all eligible students, the chancellor may establish different grant amounts based on the number of applicants and the total amount of funds set aside for that purpose.

(E) The chancellor, in consultation with the providers of qualified programs, shall collect and report program metrics that include all of the following:

(1) Demographics of recipients, including:

(a) Age, disaggregated as follows:

(i) Twenty-four years and younger;

(ii) Twenty-five to thirty-four years;

(iii) Thirty-five to forty-nine years;

(iv) Fifty years and older.

(b) Gender;

(c) Race and ethnicity;

(d) Enrollment status as full- or part-time;

(e) Pell grant status.

(2) Success rates of recipients, including program retention and completion;

(3) Total number of industry-recognized credentials awarded, disaggregated by subject or program area.