ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) –  The New York Governor’s Office announced $35 million in funding to expand after-school programs in high-need school districts.

The governor’s office says the Empire State After-School Program will serve 22,000 additional students.

“This investment in our youngest New Yorkers is an investment in the very future of this state,” Gov. Cuomo said. “With this funding, we will further level the playing field for children in underserved cities across New York by expanding their access to programs and community resources that will help them get ahead and help create a stronger, fairer Empire State for all.”

Eligible school districts may partner with non-profit agencies to provide after-school programs. Any school districts interested in applying must:

• Be located in municipalities designated under the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative;
• Be located in a county that had a child poverty rate of over 30 percent in 2015;
• Have a district child poverty rate of over 30 percent in 2015; or
• Had between 5,000 and 20,000 students living in poverty within the school district in 2015.