For STEM Starter Academy programs to be implemented through the department of higher education at the Massachusetts community colleges to benefit student populations identified by the department as having expressed a high level of interest in STEM majors and STEM careers and yet are underperforming on STEM academic assessments; provided, that the STEM Starter Academy program shall incorporate best practice design elements from established STEM career pathways initiatives; provided further, that the STEM Starter Academy shall incorporate employer and industry collaboration to address workforce needs in high-demand fields, industry contextualized STEM curriculum, embedded mathematics and English language remediation and student supports and other STEM education research-based strategies that promote enrollment, enhance retention and increase post-secondary graduation rates and pathways to job placement or transfer to four-year degree programs; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months
