The Department of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a “Generation Next” pilot program to provide industry-based job shadowing and internship experiences to high school students and externship experiences to teachers in the public schools, including the technical education and career schools. The Commissioner of Education, for purposes of the program, may award grants to local and regional boards of education, technical education and career schools or state-wide or local business associations, in partnership with such boards of education or schools, for demonstration projects. Boards of education, technical education and career schools or business associations seeking to participate in the pilot program shall apply to the department at such time and in such form as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall select a diverse group of participants based on the population, geographic location and economic characteristics of the school district or school. Local and regional boards of education, technical education and career schools or business associations awarded grants under the program shall use grant funds for developing and implementing a coordinated high school level teacher externship and student job shadowing and internship program with science or mathematics or with technology intensive businesses in the state.