About our Co-op

A Co-op Preschool Benefits the Child and the Parent

We understand your child's education is important to you. At ECP, you will be able to observe your child's growth and play a significant role in their success.

As a co-op parent, you are an integral part of the children's learning experience. You'll assist the teachers in the classroom to provide a safe and nurturing environment, help keep the preschool running smoothly, and help establish a love of learning. We emphasize developmentally appropriate learning through play-based discovery, hands-on exploration, and social interaction. And thanks to parent volunteers like you, we maintain an unbeatable 1:4 classroom adult-to-child ratio.

All ECP parents have the benefit of being part of the Bellevue College Parent Education Program. Each month, you will attend a discussion run by our BC Parent Educator. Topics explore various aspects of life with your preschooler, such as dealing with your child's unique temperament, positive discipline, emotional development, or literacy skills.

Cooperative Structure:

• ECP is a multi-age preschool environment where 3-year-old students and 4-year-old students meet together for 2.5 hours a day, 3 days a week. 4-year-olds then have one additional hour of class each day to work on more advanced social and academic skills.

• With parent volunteers, ECP maintains an adult-to-child ratio of 1 adult per 4 students.

• The cooperative preschool teaching team is comprised of the children’s teacher(s) and a parent education instructor. The children’s teacher works primarily with the students and helps guide parent volunteers in the classroom during daily activities. The parent education instructor works in the classroom approximately once a week, observing and supporting the children and the teacher. The parent instructor also leads the monthly parent education meeting.

• ECP is a non-profit organization governed by an elected board of parents.

Cooperative Parent Commitment:

• Parents assist the teacher in the preschool classroom between two and four days per month. Parent availability is taken into consideration in the monthly schedule.

• Parents attend parent education meetings one evening per month. Parent education meetings include lecture and group discussion on relevant child development topics and parental issues in order to provide techniques and knowledge for successful parenting.

• Parents hold a board position or another parental job which enable the preschool to continue to run smoothly.

• Parents assist with set-up and clean-up days and attend orientation meetings.