A cooperative preschool is a nonprofit organization run by parents and an elected board of directors. Parents work in the classroom on a rotating schedule to assist the teacher. Parents also enroll in a continuing education class through Bates Technical College and earn clock hours by attending parenting classes. 

Cooperative preschools

• are the best place to learn right along with your child
• let parents participate in their child's education

• have a high adult-to-child ratio, meaning lots of helping hands and individual attention for each child

• have excellent teachers who regularly update
  their knowledge and skills at Bates Technical
  College workshops and seminars

• receive lots of support and information from early childhood professionals at Bates Technical College and the community

• use approved practices within the guidelines
  of the National Association for the Education
  of Young Children

• give parents a voice in decisions and policy-
  making

• allow parents and children to build a great
  foundation of respect and cooperation

• give parents a chance to celebrate those fleeting first years with their children

• recognize that parents are the most important
  teachers a child will have

   

Parent participation is essential to the operation of our school. Parents work a few times a month in the classroom, attend a monthly business meeting and parent education workshop (held in the evening) and hold a non-classroom job. Non-clasroom jobs range from designated play dough maker to a position on the board. 

Registration with Bates Technical College means that parents are enrolled in a continuing education program and are earning clock hours toward a Parenting Certificate. Working in the classroom is considered laboratory hours and attending parent education meetings is the lecture for the program.

Please see the "Our Classes" page for information on our schedule and tuition.

Please call 253-486-7949 to request a registration form. One month's tuition and a $30 non-refundable registration fee is required to hold a place for your child.

On the West Hill of Auburn. Click here for our address and a map of our location.