3. a. The Commissioner of Education shall develop and administer the program on a pilot basis. The commissioner shall select local school districts to participate in the program based upon the number of at-risk students within the district, the interest of public and private profit or nonprofit employers located within the district in participating in the program, and the commissioner’s evaluation of the district’s ability to successfully implement the program. In selecting school districts to participate, the commissioner shall include urban and suburban districts from the north, central and southern regions of the State with at least one school district per county.

b. A school district which wants to participate in the program shall provide to the commissioner an outline of its proposed program which shall include, but not be limited to: information on the number and grade level of the at-risk students who will participate in the program; the process of student referral to the program; the selection criteria for student participants which, in addition to eligibility for at-risk funding under section 80 of P.L.1990, c.52 (C. 18A:7D-20), shall include the identification of students who are not meeting district standards of behavior and academic achievement; a listing of employers within the district who have agreed to participate in the program and the process which will be utilized for matching students to employment internship opportunities; and, an analysis of the manner in which student employment experiences will enhance the self-esteem and assimilation of life skills necessary for productive functioning in the school setting and society.

L.1995,c.256,s.3.