The beauty of cooperation

Why Choose A Cooperative Preschool?

Taking part in a cooperative preschool allows you to be directly involved with your child’s early education. Being able to supervise your child, and the teacher, guarantees your child is safe and with the best teachers anywhere. Interacting with a community of other parents who share your commitment to childhood and receiving modeling by the teacher as you help, gives you opportunities to learn alongside your child. Most importantly, choosing a cooperative preschool gives you extra time to bond with your child and create memories together. Your child will always know that education is important in your family because you live it everyday. 

How a Cooperative Works

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. 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 (usually a nonprofit venture), thus making it truly a cooperative venture. Parents, preschool children and their teachers all go to school together and learn together.

Co-ops come in all shapes and sizes because each one is uniquely designed to suit the needs of it’s members.

Cooperative preschools are good for everyone!

For parents…

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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.

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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.

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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.

Learn more about how cooperatives work

One of the greatest parts about participation in a co-op is making community connections that can last a lifetime.

Play-based learning has long been a tenet of co-op schools because studies show that play is the way that young children learn best.

Cooperative schools are uniquely suited to meet the needs of their members, so no two look alike.

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Thinking of starting a co-op?

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“I don’t know any way parents can learn as much as they can through participating in a parent cooperative nursery school.”
— Dr. Katharine Whiteside Taylor

One of the most common questions we hear is "How can I start a co-op where I live?"  We are here to help!

Belonging to a cooperative preschool is a special experience for parents and children. Most programs are based on the idea that children learn through play and that the program must be developmentally appropriate for the preschool age group. Further, one of the key attributes of a cooperative school program is parent education.

At your fingertips...

Whether you are a parent searching for a cooperative for your child, an individual thinking about starting a cooperative preschool in your area, or a member seeking to network with others who share your interests, PCPI has resources to help. 

  • A handy guide to help you get started called How to Start a Preschool or Child Care Cooperative

  • Articles and posters about cooperative involvement and play-based early childhood education and how learning happens for young children

  • Resources to help you get connected with the community of co-ops, to streamline school operations, and to support parent education

  • Newsletters filled with current co-op related content - sign up to receive new issues electronically

  • Membership in PCPI comes with access to grants, an awards program, training, online discussion forums, and MORE!

Publications and Materials

Whether you are considering starting a cooperative or you are part of one that has been in operation for many years, PCPI has resources to help.  Below you will find links to articles that can be downloaded at no cost as well as items available for purchase through our online store.  Digital publications and materials are free to members. 

Co-oping or Volunteering

What does it really mean to be a co-oping member of a preschool? Lesley Romanoff, Past President of PCPI and Lead Teacher of Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, shares her thoughts.

Articles

Has P-L-A-Y become a Four Letter Word?

Read why play is an integral part of early childhood education in this article from the PCPI archives.

Play Based Vs. Academic Preschools 

Research indicates that preschool children learn best through a play-based curriculum. Read the article by Kathryn Ems, M.S., Past President of Parent Cooperative Preschools International.

Posters

Digital Download

How to Start a Preschool or Child Care Cooperative, a basic introduction to the cooperative education philosophy and model, is available for purchase as digital download. The book is free to PCPI members using a discount code at purchase.   

$20.00

Additional Resources

Cooperatively Speaking Facebook Group

Our ​Cooperatively Speaking Facebook group​, allows members to extend conversation, pose questions, post photos, and share ideas. The group has a limited membership and is intended as a private place to ask questions and seek advice from peers. You can send a membership request and answer three questions, and your request will be verified and approved by the group administrator.

PCPI Online Discussion Group

This online forum is intended to provide another way to connect with and share information with other members. Ask to join the ​Google Group​ by clicking the link or by emailing PCPI Newsletter​ Editor.

Free Preschool Management Software

Jovial and PCPI have developed a strong partnership based on our shared mission to support cooperative preschools. Jovial provides preschool management software free of charge to cooperative schools.

Parent Education Support

Tools for easier parenting
and a happier family

Jennifer Watanabe, the founder and owner of Resources for Parenting, is a long-time parent educator and parent coach. She offers tools that parents can use to make family life better. 

Jennifer loves co-ops. She participated in co-op preschool with both of her sons, who are now 30 and 26 years old. She retired from Bellevue College in Washington state after 24 years of teaching parenting classes, including at some of the college’s sponsored cooperative preschools. 

Jennifer teaches classes and workshops online and in-person for parents who want to simplify their family and work life, including Positive Discipline classes.

Additional Supports for Cooperative Preschools

Member Benefits: GRANTS

Grants

PCPI makes a number of grant opportunities available to members each year. Overviews of each grant are provided below. Click the buttons to learn more and access grant application forms when they are released.

Katharine Whiteside Taylor Grant

The Katharine Whiteside Taylor Grant is for Canadian members to fund parent education programs.

Due:  December 15, 2025

Becky Allen Parent Education Grant

Established in memory of Rebecca (Becky) Allen, a founding member of PCPI, this grant supports parent education projects in member schools.

Due:  December 15, 2025

Anne Eddowes Cooperative Spirit Grant

This grant supports parent-led community projects in member schools.  

Due:  December 15, 2025

Cooperative Support Grant

This grant assists member preschools with start-up and/or emergent funding needs.

Due: December 15th, 2025

Marika Townshend Travel Grant

The Marika Townshend Travel Grant program helps our members attend the PCPI annual meeting.

Due:  TBD

Member Benefits: AWARDS

Awards

PCPI awards are available to honor outstanding members each year. Award nominations are accepted from members each spring, and recipients are announced at the PCPI Annual Meeting. 

PCPI Annual Awards

PCPI will present awards to those who have rendered outstanding service to the cooperative preschool movement. The Awards Committee depends on members to nominate people deserving special recognition.

Award categories include:

  • Stronger Together Award (formerly District Award)

  • Continuing Service Award (formerly Continue Service District Award)

  • National Award

  • Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Award

  • Robin Garthright Bunster Award for Excellence in Teaching

  • Certificate of Appreciation

  • Honorary Life Membership

Due:  March 1, 2025

Past Award Recipients

A list of past award recipients is available by clicking the button below.  Information about award recipients and their accomplishments is also published in Cooperatively Speaking following the awards ceremony held at the annual meeting.

Award Application Fee and Optional Pin Purchase

Award nominations must be accompanied by a $20 application fee. The fee can be paid online or by mail - instructions are included on the nomination form.

The PCPI Awards pin is also available to purchase to honor award recipients.

Award Application Fee
$20.00

Online payment for PCPI Annual Awards applications. Application forms must be submitted separately and can be found at www.preschools.coop/forms.

Award Pin
$35.00

The PCPI pin with the historic logo reminds us of the long and strong history of the organization and of parent cooperative preschools. The pin is available to honor PCPI award recipients for their contributions to the cooperative movement. Shipping is included in the product price.

PCPI Newsletter
Cooperatively Speaking

Recent Editions

January 2025 (Volume 55, No. 1)

January 2025 (Volume 55, No. 2) 

February 10, 2025 (Special Edition) (Volume 55, No. 3)

February 15, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 4)

February 25, 2025 (Special Edition) (Volume 55, No. 5)

March 1, 2025 (Special Edition) (Volume 55, No. 6)

March 11, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 7)

March 14, 2025 (Special Edition) (Volume 55, No. 8)

March 25, 2025 (Special Edition) (Volume 55, No. 9)

March 31, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 10)

April 28, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 11)

May 20, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 12)

June 30, 2025 (Volume 55, No. 13)

Cooperatively Speaking, the PCPI newsletter, is electronically distributed to members each month. The publication includes news about the cooperative community, school profiles, information about upcoming events and grant opportunities.