(1) Appointment of selection committee. The board will appoint a committee composed of educators and leaders in business and government.

(2) Role of selection committee. The committee will act on behalf of the board to select recipients and alternates from the pool(s) of eligible applicants who have submitted applications to the board. This committee will also advise board staff and the board on recommended changes in the program administration, including the application and selection procedures for future competitions.

(3) Selection of recipients and alternates. Once all initial eligibility criteria are met, preference will be given in the selection process to those classified K-12 public school employees closest to obtaining their initial Washington state teacher certifications. In addition, the committee will consider each of the following items in the selection process.

(a) Applicant's academic ability.

(b) Applicant's statement evidencing commitment to the teaching profession and the applicant's ability to serve as a positive role model as a Washington public school K-12 teacher.

(c) Applicant's length and quality of contributions to the Washington K-12 public school in his/her current position and any other previous positions.

(d) Recommendation from a current school teacher/official describing the applicant's potential as a future teacher.

(e) The committee will give preference in awarding as follows:

(i) Eligible renewal applicants who are within two years of completing their initial teacher certification requirements.

(ii) All other eligible renewal applicants.

(iii) Eligible new applicants who are within two years of completing their initial teacher certification requirements.

(iv) All other new eligible applicants.

(4) Duration of conditional scholarship awards.

(a) During the first year, the board will initially make one-year awards to applicants selected for conditional scholarships.

(b) Based on the remaining availability of funds, the board may also make commitments to some recipients for additional years of study, with priority given to those recipients who are within two years of completing their initial teacher certification requirements.