What's next after PEPS - Cooperative Preschools

The Seattle area has a fantastic collection of cooperative programs that can be a great fit for families with kids as young as 5 months.

Cooperative preschools affiliated with a community college are a well-regarded way to create community and connection for growing families in our area. These preschools provide ongoing parent education as well as providing early learning for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Since 1940, Seattle families have shared in educating young children through a popular network of cooperative preschools (called co-ops). They are set up to create a sense of community and learning together, and many families find that co-ops can be a natural extension of a PEPS group -- providing great support, resources and lots of parenting ideas. Co-ops are often equally focused on early childhood education and providing education and resources for parents.

How does it work?

Each cooperative preschool functions a bit differently, but in general, parents can expect to be involved in some of the following ways:  as assistant teachers, supporters, learners, policy-makers and partners. Classrooms are led by a teacher trained in early childhood education and a parent-educator. Parents may rotate working in the classroom, hold a job on the co-op board or a classroom committee, and attend monthly parent meetings. At the infant and toddler levels, some colleges have offerings that are more like a class, and some more like a co-op. Older classes meet two, three or four times a week, with parents typically working one day in the classroom.

Winter is prime-time for families thinking about joining a co-op. Most schools offer tours in January and February, which are usually required prior to enrollment or joining a wait list. Formal enrollment periods typically begin in March.

Resources

• PEPS list of area preschool co-ops
• North Seattle Community College Co-op Preschools overview to understand the basics of how co-ops work
• Local preschool fairs sponsored by ParentMap