The Children's Scholarship Fund has announced $30 million in new funds to expand the program nationwide, allowing low-income families around the country to apply for money to send their children to private schools.

CSF was launched last year with a $200 million commitment from founders Ted Forstmann, chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace, and John Walton, an heir to the Wal-Mart fortune.

The program had been initially restricted to 43 cities and three states.

The new funds - donated by Forstmann, Walton and Wall Street investor Ronald W. Burkle - will allow CSF to set up a national lottery in which eligible low-income families with children entering grades K-8 can take part in a random drawing.

The April drawing will award a total $170 million through 40,000 four-year partial scholarships.

Deadline for scholarship applications is March 31. Results will be announced April 22.

Parents can obtain application forms online or by calling (800) 805-5437 for more information.