Section 25-2597.5 - Criteria for awarding grants(a) In awarding grants, the Secretary of Education shall be guided by the criteria set forth in subsections (b) and (c).(b) Education mentoring is to be measured by the anticipated results for new programs of education mentoring or actual results for existing programs which: (1) Reflect satisfactory improvements in academic achievement.(2) Result in improvements in transition into post-secondary education, job training and employment among mentored students.(3) Result in reductions in truancy, disciplinary referrals and dropout rates of students enrolled in mentoring programs.(4) Demonstrate a significant need for mentoring services in terms of numbers of students requiring mentors.(5) Demonstrate the cost-effective use of State funding.(6) Demonstrate maximum use of local resources to maximize the numbers of students served by the mentoring program.(c) Dropout prevention is to be measured by:(1) The extent to which dropout rates in the school district exceed the Statewide average dropout rate.(2) The program effectiveness in prior years if the grant application is intended to provide funding for programs already in existence, expressed in terms of: (i) A decline in both the number and percentage of students leaving school prior to graduation.(ii) Improvement in the promotion rate, attendance rate and academic achievement of students enrolled in the program.(3) The anticipated results of new programs, expressed in terms of: (i) A decline in both the number and percentage of students leaving school prior to graduation.(ii) Improvement in the promotion rate, attendance rate and academic achievement of students enrolled in the program.(4) The extent to which the school district program is linked to those of other relevant service providers, such as literacy councils, area career and technical schools, post-secondary educational and training institutions, private industry councils, social service agencies and community-based organizations.(5) The number of dropouts in the school district.Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 76, § 61, eff. 12/30/2019.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. XXV, § 2597.5, added 1997, June 25, P.L. 297, No. 30, § 20, effective 7/1/1997.