Gov. Dannel P. Malloy used a New Britain press conference Thursday to tout the Alliance District program that will provide $132 million to 30 traditionally low-performing school districts throughout the state as a key component of school reform efforts.

Norwich and New London are Alliance Districts.

Malloy announced that 28 of the 30 districts have received approval of their annual district improvement plans thus far. Combined, the 30 districts are slated to receive $132,901,813 in the 2014-15 school year. Norwich will receive $3,878,849 this year, and New London $2,736,953.

Since the program was launched in 2012, the state has allocated $259,843,832 to the 30 districts. The program requires an annual submission of turnaround plan amendments for approval from the state before funding is released.

"The Alliance Districts program represents a true alliance between historically lower performing school districts and the state," said state Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor at the press conference. "As participants in this partnership, districts craft and commit to strategies aimed at improving their performance in key state and locally-identified areas and, in turn, the state provides substantial new resources to assist these districts in carrying out their plans."

Districts have used the money to pay for full-day preschool and kindergarten, expand school hours, hire classroom aides, improve professional development for teachers and encourage families to become more involved in the schools.