Of special note to libraries from the Governor’s Budget recommendations from the Education Omnibus (page 111, section 32n) is a $25 million fund with an additional $25 million in one-time funding to develop a competitive grant program to expand access to quality, affordable programming before and after the school day for young people. Qualifications include:

1. Serve children in any of the grades - kindergarten to 12. 
2. Be a community-based organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, 26 USC 501, an institution of higher education, community or adult education program, a public library, or a local government. 

These programs must be used to support expanded learning opportunities, including but not limited to mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, art, music, literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health, and recreation programming.

MLA will be looking deeper into these multi-page budgets and providing further analysis in the days to come. View the FY23 Budget Press Release.pdf