Eligibility

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

The Science and Technology Entry Program is designed for students attending secondary school (grades 7-12) in New York State who are economically disadvantaged as defined below. Please refer to the guidelines below and provide the required documentation.

For the purpose of STEP, a student is considered a New York State resident if they reside in New York State and has lived in New York State for the last two terms of school prior to entry into the STEP Program, or has resided in New York State for at least 12 months immediately preceding the first term for which they seek participation in the STEP Program.

The economic eligibility standards set forth in this Appendix apply only at the time of application to the Science and Technology Entry Program. Once admitted, a participant may continue to receive services, even if the family income rises above the current eligibility standards.

1. Economic Eligibility Criteria for First-Time Students

A student is considered economically disadvantaged if he or she is a member of:

• a household supported by one parent if dependent, by the student or by a spouse if independent, whose total annual income is not more than the applicable amount listed in the table below; or

• a household supported solely by one member thereof who works for two or more employers with a total annual income which does not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the following table by more than $1,800; or

• a household supported by more than one worker (parents if dependent, student and spouse if independent) in which the total annual income does not exceed the applicable amount listed in the table below by more than $4,800; or

• a household supported by one worker (parent if dependent, student if independent) who is the sole support of a one-parent family in which the total annual income does not exceed the applicable amount listed in the table below by more than $4,800.

The number of members of a household shall be determined by ascertaining the number of individuals living in the student’s residence who are economically dependent on the income supporting the student. For students first entering the Program between 2021 and 2022:

Exceptions

Reference to the household income scale need not be made if the student falls into one of the following categories and documentation is available:

a. The student’s family is the recipient of (1) Family Assistance Program Aid, or (2) Safety Net Assistance through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, or a county Department of Social Services, or (3) family day care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Assistance, or a county Department of Social Services.

b. The student is a ward of the State or a county.

2. Documentation

Please provide only one of the following documents.

The following shall be acceptable documentation of economic eligibility:

a. Documentation of all income, earned dividends and interest: a signed copy of appropriate year’s tax return (IRS Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, or 4506).

b. Documentation of a sole worker’s income from two or more employers: W2’s for the appropriate year or similar documentation acceptable to the Commissioner.

c. Documentation of no income: a copy of IRS Form 4506 which has been filed by the student or family with the Internal Revenue Service or a copy of IRS Letter 1722 indicating that the student or parent did not file a return.

d. Documentation of pension, annuity, or unemployment benefits: letter from the applicable agency showing appropriate year’s total award (if not reported on IRS Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ or 1099).

e. Documentation of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or Veterans Administration non-educational benefits: a letter from the applicable agency showing applicable year’s total award for each member of the household, including Medicare premiums or IRS Form 1099 for each member of the household.

f. Documentation of Social Services payments: verification from a branch of the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Children and Family Services Assistance, or a county department of Social Services showing year that benefits were received and names of recipients including the applicant.

g. Documentation of child support and/or alimony: a court order, affidavit.

h. Documentation of additional members in household: birth certificates, marriage certificates, third-party verification, or similar documentation acceptable to the Commissioner, along with proof of income or lack of income for each such member.

Documentation of zero household contribution: the needs analysis output form from one of the United States Department of Education.