(a) The state board shall be authorized to establish the adult workforce high school diploma program to allow eligible students to qualify for enrollment in the program, and upon successful completion of the program, to be awarded a high school diploma.

(b) The state board shall be authorized to approve program providers to administer the program. Such approved program providers shall be selected through an application process, which application process shall be as follows:

(1) Not later than August 15 of each year, the state board shall make available an application for third-party entities to apply to become approved program providers;

(2) Not later than September 15 of each year, the state board shall review applications, approve program providers that meet the requirements set forth in this article, and make available a list of approved program providers on the state board’s public website; and

(3) Approved program providers shall be authorized to begin enrolling eligible students upon being approved by the state board as an approved program provider.

(c) To implement the program, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the state board shall be authorized to waive or provide variances to state rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and to seek waivers or variances of federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that may be reasonably necessary to meet the goals of the program.

(d) The state board shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article.