WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Worthington Schools is launching universal, all-day kindergarten at no cost next school year, moving away from its tuition-based system. Kindergarten registration for the new system opened this month, formalizing a change made in October to relieve parents of the cost of all-day kindergarten. Currently, families in all-day kindergarten pay tuition, which amounts to $3,105 per year. All 11 of Worthington's elementary schools offer both half-day and full-day kindergarten currently, but families who choose full-day learning must pay $345 a month. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, this fee will be absolved, with the district absorbing the estimated $1.2 million annual cost of added staff and loss of tuition revenue. "The careful fiscal management of the district allows the Board to offer free, all-day kindergarten beginning next school year and remain off the ballot until 2028," Worthington Schools Director of Communication Vicki Gnezda said. OSU's Howard, Sawyer trade helmets for headsets at Raising Canes The district cited several reasons for the change, including research indicating it is better for child development and Worthington's goal to be a more equitable school district. Worthington also said it responds to community demand. Five years ago 44% of families chose half-day, but this school year, only 16% of families chose the half-day option. Five of 11 elementary schools began the school year with 10 or fewer students in half-day kindergarten. According to Worthington Superintendent Trent Bowers, Worthington is also one of the last districts in central Ohio to charge for all-day kindergarten. Dublin City Schools is also switching from half-day to free, full-day kindergarten next year, and only Pickerington, Westerville and Olentangy schools do not offer free, all-day kindergarten of 17 districts in central Ohio. Westerville's all-day program is also tuition-based, asking $3,000 for the year or $300 per month for 10 months, August through May. "This tuition model was designed to help us offer all-day kindergarten without extra costs to the district," Bowers wrote in October. "But as educational needs evolve and we learn more about how young children learn, it’s clear that asking families to pay for this option no longer makes sense." Registration opened on Jan. 6 for next year's kindergarten class at Worthington.