Jackson County’s On My Way Pre-K program has opened registration for the the 2017-18 school year.

The state-funded program provides vouchers to qualifying, low-income families in the community to send their children to a local high-quality preschool for free.

The program is looking to serve 120 4-year-olds in the fall, an increase of 25 from the current 95 students. Children must be 4 by Aug. 1 to be eligible.

Registration can be completed online at onmywayprek.org or a paper application is available at the Jackson County Learning Center, 323 Dupont Drive, Seymour.

A total of 13 preschool providers in the county are participating in On My Way Pre-K and have been certified by the state as Level 3 providers.

A Level 3 out of the four levels means the program has high-quality curriculum in place that supports early childhood learning and school readiness. Providers include public schools, parochial schools and day cares.

Parents get to choose which program best suits their family’s needs and wants.

Child Care Network is one of the 13 local providers and will expand its programming for the upcoming school year, adding a new site at Brownstown Elementary School. Morning and afternoon half-day classes will be offered. The classes will meet Monday through Thursday. Those who don’t qualify for On My Way Pre-K can pay the weekly tuition of $80.

Other Child Care Network preschool sites are at Margaret R. Brown Elementary School, Seymour-Redding Elementary and Emerson Elementary, all in Seymour.

Classes at Redding and Emerson are full-day and meet from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Regular tuition is $140 per week, which includes snacks and lunch. Extended care services also are available at Redding.

Read the full story in Tuesday’s Tribune and online at tribtown.com.