**Exhibit 10.3**

 

**STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT**

Board of Directors

 

Dear Name:

 

Pursuant to the Childtime Learning Centers, Inc. 2003 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2003 Plan”):  Childtime Learning Centers, Inc. (the “Corporation”), the Corporation hereby grants you an option (the “Option”) to purchase ____****shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation (collectively, the “Shares”) at $_____per share, upon the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and in the 2003 Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. The date of this grant was _____ and the share price of $ ____is equal to the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on NASDAQ on that date.

 
| 1. | The Option is intended to be a Nonqualified Option, as defined in Paragraph 1(f) of the 2003 Plan. |
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| 2. | The Option may not be transferred by you other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, during your lifetime; the Option is exercisable only by you. |
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| 3. | Subject to the other terms contained in this Agreement and in the 2003 Plan, you may exercised the Option in accordance with the following schedule: |
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| a. | Prior to the first anniversary date of this Agreement, you may not purchase any of the Shares. |
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| b. | Beginning on the first anniversary date of this Agreement, you may purchase up to 100% of the Shares. |
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| 4. | Subject to earlier termination of the Option pursuant to Paragraph 17 of the Plan, the Option will expire (to the extent not previously exercised) on the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement. |
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| 5. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option may, upon the discretion of the Committee, be treated differently or may become immediately exercisable with respect to all the Shares upon occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” of the Corporation will occur on the date that (i) any “person” (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), other than Jacobson Partners and its affiliates (collectively, “Jacobson Partners”), (A) acquires beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding securities and (B) exercises that voting power to replace 50% of the directors who were serving on the Board ofDirectors of the Corporation prior to such acquisition or (ii) any person other than Jacobson Partners acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (whether by purchase, merger or consolidation). |
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| 6. | The Option will be exercised by giving a written notice to the Treasurer of the Corporation. Such notice will specify the number of Shares to be purchased and will be accompanied by payment in full (by the means specified in paragraph 7 below) of the aggregate option price for the number of Shares purchased and by the representation required by Paragraph 21 of the 2003 Plan if the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option have not been registered under the Securities Actof 1993. Such exercise will be effective only upon actual receipt of such written notice, and no rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Corporation in respect of any of the Shares issuable upon exercise of any part of the Option will inure to you or any other person who is entitled to exercise the Option unless and until certificates representing such shares have been issued. |
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