About PCPI      PCPI is a non-profit international council dedicated to the family and the community.  PCPI represents more than 50,000 families and teachers, providing on-going support to families, educators, and social agencies who recognize the value of parents as teachers of their children and the necessity of educating parents to meet the developmental needs of their children.  Membership is open to schools, councils, libraries, and individuals who uphold its purposes.  The organization was founded in 1960 on the initiative of Katharine Whiteside Taylor who was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1996 in recognition of her work on behalf of cooperative child care.   PCPI supports and encourages Parent involvement, Parent participation, and Parent education through Early Childhood Education programs.   Cooperative Preschools - Is this for My Family? Parent Cooperative Preschools A parent cooperative preschool is organized by a group of families with similar philosophies who hire a trained teacher to provide their children with a quality preschool experience.  The preschool is administered and maintained by the parents on a non-profit, non-sectarian basis.  The parents assist the professional teachers in the classroom on a rotating basis and participate in the educational program of all the children.  Each family shares in the business operation of the school, thus making it truly a cooperative venture.  Parents, preschool children and their teachers all go to school together and learn together. For Parents Parents gain insight into child behavior by observing other children.  They observe how other parents and the professional teachers handle various situations and gain greater understanding and enjoyment of their own children through active participation in their education.  They have the opportunity to share their experiences and expertise with others while working together in a cooperative setting.  Through serving on the Board, parents learn about administration, running meetings and other skills useful to them in other areas and states of their lives.  They also  learn useful ideas for helping their children at home and in the world around them. For Children Children participate in a supervised play and learning experience with children of their own age.  Equipment, materials and physical facilities are scaled to child size.  An opportunity is provided to interact with adults other than their own parents.  The children are able to find security and a feeling of belonging in a world which is non-threatening and interested in them.  Learning to respect and accept the rights and differences of others is emphasized.  Children have hands-on experiences in creative arts, music, science, literature, and language geared to their needs and developmental level. For the Community Parents and children develop an extended family with friendships they carry through their lives.  Parents gain a strong sense of responsibility and develop positive self worth which carries over into every aspect of community life.  The cooperative organization provides preschool experiences within the financial means of most families.