Indiana On My Way Pre-K, explained.

Indiana is one of the few states whose state pre-K program is built as a parent-directed voucher, not a state-run classroom. On My Way Pre-K (OMW Pre-K) hands eligible four-year-olds a grant that pays for a full year of preschool at any approved high-quality provider the family chooses — a public school pre-K, a private daycare, a Head Start grantee, or a registered ministry-based program. Indiana has been scaling OMW Pre-K since its 2014 launch and is now available in all 92 counties.

This guide explains exactly who qualifies, how the voucher works at private daycares, how OMW Pre-K interacts with the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy program many families also use, and how to apply for the 2026 to 2027 program year. The numbers come from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, which administers the program.

On My Way Pre-K basics

OMW Pre-K is a state-funded scholarship for one year of pre-K, awarded to four-year-olds in families with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Roughly 5,500 grants were distributed in the 2024 to 2025 program year, and that capacity is set to grow under the Indiana General Assembly's most recent biennial budget appropriation.

The voucher is paid directly to the family's chosen provider on a monthly basis for as long as the child attends. The grant covers up to a state-set per-child rate; if the provider's published tuition is higher than that rate, the family pays the difference (a meaningful share of urban Marion County and Hamilton County providers exceed the cap).

Who qualifies

A child qualifies for OMW Pre-K if all of the following are true at the time of application:

• The child is 4 years old on August 1 of the program year (and not yet eligible for kindergarten).
• The family lives in Indiana.
• Family income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level (roughly $46,800 for a family of four in the 2026 federal poverty guidelines).
• The parents are working, attending school, or job-searching at least 20 hours per week. If both parents are in the home, both must be working or in school; single-parent households need one working/in-school parent.
• The child is not yet enrolled in another state-funded pre-K program (Head Start excluded).

Children in foster care, in active military families, or with an identified disability receive priority within the eligible pool.

The school day

OMW Pre-K is a full-school-year program. The provider must deliver instruction at least 5 days per week, with a minimum of 6 instructional hours per day, mirroring the public-school calendar. Wrap-around care before and after the instructional day is allowed at the provider's normal rate.

Approved providers

To accept OMW Pre-K grants, a provider must hold one of the top two Paths to QUALITY ratings (Level 3 or Level 4), Indiana's quality rating and improvement system. Roughly 1,200 providers statewide currently meet that threshold — a mix of:

• Public school district pre-K classrooms (Indianapolis Public Schools, Fort Wayne Community Schools, Evansville Vanderburgh, South Bend, and many others).
• Licensed private daycare centers (Bright Horizons, KinderCare, La Petite, and many independent operators).
• Licensed family childcare homes that have earned Paths to QUALITY Level 3 or 4.
• Head Start grantees operating as state pre-K providers.
• Registered Ministry programs that have voluntarily entered Paths to QUALITY and reached Level 3 or 4.

The wrap-around math

How to apply

1. Confirm eligibility online. Use the FSSA Office of Early Childhood eligibility screener at onmywayprek.org. The screener verifies age, income, and county.
2. Submit your application. Indiana opens an annual OMW Pre-K application window each spring (typically February through May for the following August). Required documents: the child's birth certificate, proof of Indiana residency, proof of family income (recent pay stubs or tax return), and documentation of work/school status for the parents in the home.
3. Receive your grant offer. If your application is approved and grants are still available in your county, you will receive an offer letter naming your child as an eligible recipient. Offers are typically issued in late spring.
4. Choose a Paths to QUALITY Level 3 or 4 provider. The OMW Pre-K provider list is searchable on the program website. Tour your top two or three before deciding.
5. Submit your provider choice to FSSA. Once you confirm a provider, the state pays the grant directly to the provider for as long as your child attends in the OMW year.

Demand routinely exceeds supply in some counties; apply early in the window and have a back-up provider ready in case your first choice is full.

Common questions

Can I use OMW Pre-K and CCDF together? Yes. OMW Pre-K covers the instructional day; CCDF can subsidize the wrap-around hours for income-eligible working families. Apply for both through the FSSA portal.

What happens if the provider charges more than the OMW grant rate? The family pays the difference. Always confirm the provider's published OMW Pre-K rate with the provider in writing before enrolling, especially in Marion, Hamilton, and Allen counties where market rates can exceed the grant.

What if I am denied? Indiana caps grant funding each year; in some counties, eligible families end up on a waiting list. If denied due to capacity, ask the FSSA office about Head Start (separate federal program) and CCDF for the daycare year.

Does OMW Pre-K guarantee kindergarten enrollment? No. Kindergarten enrollment runs through your local public school district as a separate process.

Where to go next

Browse our Indiana city directories for OMW Pre-K-approved daycare details: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and the broader Indiana state daycare guide covers Paths to QUALITY ratings, CCDF eligibility, and licensing.

For comparison with other state pre-K programs, see our explainers on Illinois Preschool for All, Ohio Early Childhood Care Grant, and Michigan GSRP. For families weighing OMW Pre-K against private preschool, our Preschool vs Pre-K guide and the cost pillar cover the trade-offs. Use the cost calculator to estimate your wrap-around tuition.