MORRISTOWN – The school here will receive part of a $35 million grant from New York State to establish its after-school program, announced a press release from the governor's office today.

The grant will allow Morristown Central School to receive a five-year allotment of $1,600 per student.

The funding is available for high-need school districts across New York to establish quality after-school programs, said a press release from the Governor’s office.

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.

Districts who qualify under those guidelines must adopt quality indicators assessing environment, staff-to-student interaction and student outcomes.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services, which will administer the grant, expects to announce awards this fall.