The Commissioner of Education shall, within available appropriations, establish an educational reform district science grant program that awards grants to educational reform districts, as defined in section 10-262u, for the purpose of improving student academic performance in science, reading and numeracy in kindergarten to grade eight, inclusive. The local or regional board of education for an educational reform district may apply to the commissioner for a grant under this section at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. In awarding such grants, the commissioner shall give priority to (1) applicant programs that partner with schools that have a record of low academic performance in science, and (2) applicant after-school elementary science programs that have a record of improving student academic performance in science.