(a) Renewal applicants shall be given priority over first-time applicants unless a break in Employment Service Periods has occurred as a result of the circumstances described in §21.2025 of this title (relating to Exceptions to Consecutive Years of Employment Requirement).     
      (b) If there are not sufficient funds to encumber awards for all eligible applicants for enrollment in the Program, applications shall be ranked according to a cumulative ranking system developed by the Board based on:      
        (1) the number of mathematics and science courses completed by the applicants;       
        (2) the grade received by each applicant for each of those courses; and       
        (3) employment at schools  having the highest percentages of students who are eligible for free or reduced cost lunches.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §23.289 adopted to be effective August 30, 2016, 41 TexReg 6484; transferred effective December 15, 2016, as published in the Texas Register November 25, 2016, 41 TexReg 9341