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Is Co-op Preschool Right for You and Your Family?

Child Care Director Resources

9th September 2023

What is a cooperative preschool and how does it work?

A co-op preschool, short for cooperative preschool, is a unique educational setting where parents actively participate in their child’s early learning process. In a co-op, parents work closely alongside professional educators, sharing responsibilities such as teaching, supervising, and organizing various school activities.

This collaborative approach fosters a tight-knit community spirit, encouraging strong bonds between families and staff. It not only offers children a nurturing and engaging environment to explore and learn but also allows parents to be directly involved in their child’s educational journey, ensuring a more personalized and supportive learning experience. The active parental involvement also typically makes co-op preschools more affordable than traditional preschools, making quality early education more accessible.

Finding the Best Co-op Preschool with Wonderschool

Navigating through preschool options can be overwhelming, but Wonderschool is here to guide you seamlessly through the selection process, ensuring you find the best co-op preschool near you. We spotlight excellent examples like the Albuquerque Pre-school Co-operative, a remarkable institution steeped in tradition and community involvement. Under the current direction of Yvette Asenap, the preschool immediately communicates to families their role in the child care and learning community.

This co-op preschool cooperative is comprised of parent-led committees that focus on gardening, fundraising, chicken care, marketing, and playground engagement. Families attend orientation and ongoing training sessions prior to enrolling to ensure educational and quality alignment.

At Wonderschool, we assist you in uncovering co-op preschools that resonate with your values and expectations, simplifying your journey to discovering a nurturing, community-oriented learning environment for your child.

The Benefits of Co-Op Preschools 

There are two compelling reasons to join a co-op. The first is that parents become involved in their children’s education. This can bring a great deal of joy, trust, and investment to parents who work part-time or have flexible hours. Often, co-ops have directors or teaching staff who assist new parents in teaching children according to the program’s pedagogical practices and ensure health and safety guidelines are met.

Additionally, tuition reduction is a big benefit. By volunteering, parents help keep the school’s costs down, which typically results in reduced fees. With the pressure of tuition being the main source of sustenance for the program decreased, both Co-Op directors and parents can focus their time and talent instead to ensure the children have great opportunities to learn together.

The Potential Drawbacks of Co-op Preschools

Simultaneously, parents must commit to the work! For the sake of continuity, families should consider whether they are truly committed to the level of involvement required by a cooperative preschool. Joining a co-op is comparable to taking on a part-time job, if not more so because other families and children rely on you to perform your duties! Parents also have to work together, and with different styles and points of view, this can be tricky. But usually, the Co-Op director can help resolve any issues that may occur.

Wonderschool Helps You Find the Best Co-op For Your Family in Your Area

Wonderschool can assist you in discovering co-ops in your area that encourage active parent involvement. After locating some online, the best course of action is to contact the school and schedule a time to visit in person and, if possible, speak with parents about what it’s like to volunteer. If you’re interested in establishing a cooperative preschool, you can also partner with Wonderschool to start a program. Our tools include familiarizing potential school-creators with state regulations, marketing insight, enrollment support, and overall mentoring.

wonderschool

Wonderschool is a network of quality in-home early childhood programs. Our mission is to ensure that every child has access to a home away from home that helps them realize their full potential. We work with experienced educators and child care providers to help them start their own child care or preschool out of their homes, whether they live in apartments, condos, or homes that they rent or own.