(a) The State Department of Education shall select applicants to participate in the program established pursuant to this article from among applicants that apply on forms and in a manner prescribed by the department. To the extent possible, the selection of applicants by the State Department of Education shall result in an equitable distribution of grant awards pursuant to Section 8483.7 to applicants in northern, southern, and central California, and in urban, suburban, and rural areas of California.

(b) The State Department of Education shall consider the following in selecting schools to participate in the program established pursuant to this article, with primary emphasis given to items (1) through (4):

(1) Strength of the educational component.

(2) Quality of the educational enrichment component.

(3) Strength of staff training and development component.

(4) Scope and strength of collaboration, including demonstrated support of the schoolsite principal and staff.

(5) Inclusion of a nutritional snack.

(6) Employment of CalWORKs recipients.

(7) Level and type of local matching funds.

(8) Capacity to respond to program evaluation requirements.

(9) Demonstrated fiscal accountability.

(c) The State Department of Education shall develop reporting requirements and allocation procedures, including procedures to reimburse startup costs for programs established pursuant to this article.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 319, Sec. 2. Effective August 19, 1998. See the prevailing Section 8483.3 (added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 320), as amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 470, in the Article 22.5 commencing with Section 8482.)