(a)
The Chancellor’s office of the California State University shall have the following duties:
(1)
Developing an application process that establishes a merit-based fellowship program for graduate students who agree to teach at a high-priority school for four years.
(2)
Establishing a broad and effective outreach effort to promote the availability and the merits of the fellowship program.
(3)
Conducting the selection process for fellowship applicants.
(4)
Collaborating with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to develop and implement a system for monitoring program participants through the completion of their four-year teaching obligation.
(5)
Determining the criteria for selecting teaching fellowship candidates. The criteria shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A)
Previous academic and employment record.
(B)
A demonstrated commitment to serve in a high-priority school.
(C)
Faculty and employer evaluations.
(D)
Interviews.
(E)
Letters of recommendation.
(b)
For the purposes of this article, a “high-priority school” is a school in the bottom half of the Academic Performance Index rankings established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 52056. If a school meets this criteria at the time a teacher is hired, continued employment of the teacher at that school fulfills the commitment made by the teacher, even if the school improves its rank on the Academic Performance Index.