(a) A student from an underrepresented background satisfying all of the following criteria shall be eligible to participate in the program:

(1) Enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a participating public postsecondary educational institution.

(2) Resident classification pursuant to Part 41 (commencing with Section 68000).

(3) Demonstrated maintenance of satisfactory academic progress in a program leading to a degree or a certificate, as determined by the public postsecondary educational institution in which the student is enrolled, applying standards of eligibility for federal financial aid. For purposes of this determination, homelessness, as defined as a “homeless individual” within the meaning of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11302(a)), or as defined as a “homeless child or youth,” as defined in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)), is an extenuating circumstance for students who are unable to meet the requirements deemed to constitute “satisfactory academic progress” at that institution that may be considered by the institution to alter or excuse compliance with the progress requirements.

(4) Demonstrated financial need, as determined by the financial aid office of the institution in which the student is enrolled pursuant to the methodologies approved by the United States Department of Education for use in awarding funds provided under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. If individual circumstances affect the ability of the student or the student’s family to contribute to the student’s total financial resources, the financial aid administrator may make reasonable individualized adjustments to the computed total applicant resources.

(b) Each participating public postsecondary educational institution shall prioritize for available learning-aligned employment opportunities under the program an eligible student who is a first generation college student, a current or former foster youth, homeless, or at risk of being homeless. Each participating institution shall further prioritize for available learning-aligned employment opportunities an eligible student meeting this priority criteria who is also majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics discipline.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 37. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021.)